Distributed network of communicatively coupled noise monitoring and mapping devices

ABSTRACT

Disclosed embodiments may relate to systems and methods for monitoring and/or mapping noise data from a plurality of noise monitoring devices. In some embodiments, the plurality of noise monitoring devices may include hearing protection devices configured to detect noise, and typically may communicate such noise data (which may also include location) so that the noise data can be pooled. The pooled noise data from the plurality of noise monitoring devices may then be used to the benefit of one or more of such noise monitoring devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/457,298 filed Feb. 10, 2017 by Neal Muggleton,et al. and entitled “Distributed Network of Communicate Coupled NoiseMonitoring and Mapping Devices” which is incorporated herein byreference as if reproduced in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

In hazardous industrial work environments, machinery and alarm speakersmay periodically and/or continuously generate noise that can be harmfulto worker's ears and potentially cause noise-induced hearing loss and/orhearing damage over short and/or prolonged exposure periods. The issueof potential hearing damage often arises in manufacturing and otherindustrial facilities, but may also arise in military settings, airportsettings, and other work environments that involve potentially damagingnoise exposure. The sounds generated by machines, speakers, or peoplemay occur at different locations within a worksite and the level ofnoise may increase as the sound sources multiply and/or with theoccurrence of an emergency event, such as an alarm tone having a higherfrequency and level (e.g. decibel) in an emergency event compared to thesound frequency and level in typical, non-emergency industrial workenvironments. Thus, to safeguard the hearing of people (such as workers,employees, customers, etc.) against harmful and/or prolonged noiseexposure, the use of hearing protection may be implemented. The level ofhearing protection can be measured in terms of decibel levels ofexposure (dB) (e.g. differences in level of exposure) and correspondingnoise reduction capability referred to as noise reduction rating (NRR).

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods tomonitor and map noise data from a plurality of noise monitoring devices(NMD) (e.g., specifically configured noise dosimeters, sound levelmeters, hearing protection devices (hpd), non-attenuating headsets,attenuating headsets, other sensor equipment (e.g. gas detectors) withnoise monitoring capabilities (e.g. microphones), Personal ProtectionEquipment (PPE) with noise monitoring capabilities (e.g. PPE havingintegrated wearable sensors), and/or in some embodiments fixed noisemonitoring devices—in other words, the NMD may comprise mobile (e.g.configured to be attached to, carried by, and/or worn by individualusers/workers (e.g. personalized)) and/or fixed devices), whichtypically may be specifically configured and operable to communicativelycouple (e.g., wired and/or wirelessly) to a central computer system(which is configured to be a non-generic particular machine) via anetwork. In some embodiments, the computer system is configured toreceive the noise data (which may include measured sound values,location information, identifiers, and other information received fromnoise monitoring devices (such as classification of sound or othersensor data, for example)) from the plurality of noise monitoringdevices, pool the noise detection data (such as by concatenatingidentifiers of each noise monitoring device), and create a noise mapthat is operable for output to a display (e.g., a display of a userequipment located at a facility in which the noise monitoring devicesare located, which could in come embodiments include display of outputfrom the noise map/computer on NMD (e.g. hpd) or other devices withinthe facility—for example, passive display means such as lighting whichmay provide a direct method of communication to the workers in theimmediate surroundings and others who may or may not be wearingNMD/hpd), in some instances including hpd which could include lightsindicative of noise level and/or lit floor tiles representative of noiselevel). In some embodiments, the noise map may be instantaneous (e.g.reflecting one (single) moment in time, for example all information/dataat a particular instance and/or related to a specific samplinginstance/time), dynamic (e.g. changing periodically to reflect currentinformation or updated accumulated information/data (e.g. reflecting anaverage noise level over a pre-set time period, for example an averageper minute, per five minutes, per 10 minutes, per fifteen minutes, perhour, per shift, or per day), for example based on sampling frequencyrate), and/or cumulative over some set period of time. Typically, eachinstantaneous noise map (e.g. noise data for a particular time and/orsampling instance/time) would be stored in memory for some time period(e.g. for at least the longest of any time period(s) which might be usedfor any cumulative noise map purposes), such that any and all such noisemaps (e.g. noise data) might be available to the system (for example,depending on the specific type of data needed for a particularusage/analysis). Noise monitoring devices may also be referred to asnoise mapping devices (NMD). For example, a computer system may create anoise map in which noises (i.e. sound levels) between known noise datapoints (received from the plurality of noise monitoring devices of thesystem) are interpolated and correlated with known location identifierson a generated digital noise map (a data structure configured tocorrespond with a predefined layout of a physical location, such as butnot limited to a factory layout, construction site, commercial building,etc.). Once created, the computer system may push, via a network, thenoise map to displays that are accessible to a user associated with atleast one of the plurality of noise monitoring devices (such as a userwearing a hearing protection device that reported noise detection datato the central computer system) and/or to a supervisor or monitorpersonnel (for example at a central or remote location) and/or to anyother networked device (such as a smart phone or smart watch).

For example, embodiments of a system of the present disclosure couldcomprise: (1) a plurality of noise monitoring devices (such as a NMDthat is specifically configured as a hearing protection device thatoptionally has a hearing protection element (e.g. earmuff, earplug, orother element for sealing the ear canal or otherwise protecting the userfrom external noise)), wherein at least one noise monitoring device mayinclude: at least one microphone electrically coupled to a processorthat is configured to receive incoming noise signals via at least onemicrophone and then transform the noise signals into noise data that iscollected for noise monitoring, a locator device (such as a globalpositioning receiver module, one or more short-range and/or long-rangetransceivers (e.g., operable for wireless communication at distancesbetween 1 mm-100 m, and 1 mm-100 km respectively) coupled to theprocessor to determine location via trilateration, radio frequencyidentification transceivers, wi-fi transceiver, etc.)operable/configured to determine the noise monitoring device's location(such as the location of the NMD within a facility), and a transceiver(e.g., a radio transceiver configured for wireless communication and/ora wired transceiver for communicating noise data). In some embodiments,the system may further comprise (2) a remotely located computer systemthat is communicatively coupled, via the network, to the plurality ofnoise monitoring devices, the computer system comprising a transceivercoupled to a processor and a non-transitory memory, the non-transitorymemory comprising an application that, upon execution, configures thecomputer system to: communicate with the plurality of noise monitoringdevices and/or receive noise data from at least the NMD that provideshearing protection; pool the noise data communicated from the NMD (thatprovides hearing protection) and the plurality of noise monitoringdevices; and based on the pooled noise data, generate a noise map. Togenerate an effective noise map, the system may sample noise at a ratesuitable for the specific end use to which the noise map pooled data maybe put. So for example, in some embodiments the noise monitoring devicemight detect noise at a rate from one minute, to 15 minutes, to hourly,to daily, depending on the specific usage envisioned for the data. Morefrequent sampling (for example once per second or even more frequently)may yield a higher data resolution, which might be advantageous in someembodiments (for example in uses related to moving noise sources). Aplurality of NMD's could be communicatively connected with the computersystem, and the computer system would use the detected noise data fromone or more NMD's to generate a noise map. The computer system may beremotely located relative the plurality of noise monitoring devices(such as one or more NMD's that provide hearing protection), and thecomputer system can be configured to interpolate for areas of the noisemap between the actual measured noise monitoring data points received bythe computer from the NMDs (wherein the interpolation may in someinstances be based on a model of the site, such that sound propagationcan be calculated/estimated). The remotely located computer system maybe operable to provide a display (e.g. a monitor screen) that isconfigured to present the noise map in a visual format (e.g. typicallyheat maps, which might show a layout of a facility and indicatingintensity levels of sound at certain locations in the facility based onvarying colors and brightness levels, where for example the higherintensity of noise is represented by a more concentrated color and/orbrightness on the map relative low intensity noise locations on the mapwith darker colors and/or lower brightness). In some instances, thecomputer system might transmit the generated noise map to a plurality ofdisplays (e.g. separate and apart from the computer system) which arelocated a predefined distance from the plurality of noise monitoringdevices.

Such a noise map might then be used by the computer system and/or noisemonitoring devices in a variety of ways, for example with interactionwith one or more of the noise monitoring devices and/or sources of thenoise. For example, data from the noise map could be used by thecomputer system, noise monitoring devices, and/or sources producing thenoise in one or more of the following ways: (a) determine from noisedata and/or the noise map (from the communicatively connected noisemonitoring devices) if there is a moving noise source that might pose aphysical hazard to users with limited hearing (e.g. due to possiblehearing damage and/or the use of hearing protection) and warn users of apotential collision hazard; (b) detect an alarm and transmit/share alarminformation with other hpd in the zone of alarm and/or related zone(s)(e.g. in proximity or abutting the alarm zone); (c) correlate userlocation (i.e., location of the NMD) with noise level and compare todatabase (e.g. containing specific hearing information/threshold foreach device) to determine if a warning should be sent to a specific NMD(for example, if the specific device corresponds with a user profileindicating a sensitivity to noise and that user should not be exposed tosuch loud noise); (d) detect if a hpd is (in an adjacent zone and)moving towards a zone having noise in excess of the user's threshold;(e) for a new worker coming in that is wearing an NMD, determine thezone (of the noise map/facility) that the user will be entering andsuggest/recommend (e.g., via an audible warning transmitted to thatuser's NMD) or provide (e.g. automatically dispense hearing protectionvia a proximate hearing protection dispenser) appropriate hpd based ontheir location within the noise map; (f) compare information on thelocation and type of NMD to the noise map, determine if the hearingprotection provided by the NMD is insufficient/inadequate (e.g., hearingprotection element of the NMD does not have active noise cancellationand/or not a high enough NRR), and transmit a warning to the NMD if thehearing protection is found inadequate; (g) generate an estimate of time(left/remaining) to spend in the zone (based on location, type of NMDthat provides hearing protection, noise map, individualized user hearinginformation/threshold, and/or previous exposure (history) to noise) andtransmit to the NMD; (h) use noise data (e.g. from the noise map)regarding a moving noise source to alter the set-up/configuration of NMDalong the trajectory of the moving noise source. In some embodiments,the noise map could be used in combination with a worker locationtracking system, such that the person/worker not wearing any noisemonitoring NMD/hpd could still have their noise exposure data determinedand stored by the computer by combining the worker's location throughoutthe work day compared with the noise levels available through the mappeddata (e.g. from the NMD) at the time that such person/worker is locatedin a given area (with known noise level due to the noise map) (e.g.correlating such a worker's location with the measured noise data fromother NMD). Other uses for the noise map data (such as population wideanalysis of areas/zones within a facility that may need to be engineeredto reduce noise emissions or using noise detection information for faultdetection, for example to detect part or equipment failure based onnoise level outside the expectation (e.g. range) for a zone/area (forexample based on pre-knowledge of what an area/zone should sound likeand/or based on specific frequency detection indicative of such afailure) and/or help locate such failures by correlating data fromseveral noise monitoring devices, which can then be used to notifymaintenance and/or NMD reacting to the environment by adjusting hearthrough and/or noise cancelling function's within the HPD and/orenvironmental (external) noise mapping) may also be contemplated, andare within the scope of this disclosure. Further details aboutembodiments of the present disclosure for use of the noise map are setforth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, referenceis now made to the following brief description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein likereference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a noise mapping and monitoring system accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a noise mapping and monitoring system inaccordance with an illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a noise mapping device having integratednoise monitoring and mapping according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3B is an illustration of a housing and hearing protection elementsfor the noise monitoring device of FIG. 3A according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 3C is an illustration of a housing and hearing protection elementsfor the noise mapping and monitoring device of FIG. 3A according toanother example embodiment.

FIG. 3D is an illustration of a housing for the noise monitoring deviceof FIG. 3A according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of circuits utilized to perform noisemonitoring and mapping according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary computer systemsuitable for implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary NMD/hpd withexemplary visual indicator (with both front and side views), showing twoexemplary stages of illumination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood at the outset that although illustrativeimplementations of one or more embodiments are illustrated below, thedisclosed systems and methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques, whether currently known or not yet in existence. Thedisclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrativeimplementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, but may bemodified within the scope of the appended claims along with their fullscope of equivalents.

The following brief definition of terms shall apply throughout theapplication:

The use of the term “comprising” and the term “including”, (as well asother forms such as “comprises”, “includes”, and “included”) is not tobe interpreted as limiting;

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “according to one embodiment,” and thelike generally mean that the particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic following the phrase may be included in at least oneembodiment of the present invention, and may be included in more thanone embodiment of the present invention (importantly, such phrases donot necessarily refer to the same embodiment);

Use of the term “exemplary” or an “example” is understood to refer to anon-exclusive example, and the use of such term means “serving as anexample, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments;

The terms “about” or approximately” or the like, when used with anumber, is understood to mean that specific number, or alternatively, arange in proximity to the specific number, as understood by persons ofskill in the art field; and

If the specification states a component or feature “may,” “can,”“could,” “should,” “would,” “preferably,” “possibly,” “typically,”“optionally,” “for example,” “often,” or “might” (or other suchlanguage) be included or have a characteristic, that particularcomponent or feature is not required to be included or to have thecharacteristic. Such component or feature may be optionally included insome embodiments, or it may be excluded.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way ofillustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the present disclosure, and it is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural,logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. The following description of exampleembodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a noise monitoring and mapping system 100 isdisclosed for implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure.System 100 comprises a plurality of noise monitoring devices (NMD) 102(which may also be referred to as noise mapping devices NMD), at leastone hearing protection dispenser 140 (hereinafter dispenser), and atleast one noise source 154. The noise source 154 may be embodied by oneor more sound/audio sources that produce sounds in work environments,such as machinery, vehicles, speakers, people, or equipment inmanufacturing and industrial facilities, military settings, airportsettings, and other work environments that involve potentially damagingnoise exposure. A noise source, such as noise source 154, generatescontinuous and/or intermittent noise above a defined threshold fordefined a time period (such as above 90 dB for at least 1 second). NMD's102 and dispenser 140 are capable of wireless communication with eachother and with one or more computer system(s) 160 via one or morenetwork node(s) 150 (e.g., a wireless access point (WAP) and/or cellsite). Each of the NMD's 102, dispenser 140, and network nodes 150communicatively couple with the computer system 160 via a network 152.The computer system 160 may access datastore 156 via direct and/orindirect communicatively coupling, such at least some of the memory ofdatastore 156 being co-located with computer system 160 and/or beingaccessed via network 152. It is understood that, in some embodiments,the total number of NMD's 102, network nodes 150, dispensers 140, noisesources 154, computer systems 160, and datastores 156 may greater thanthe number of devices illustrated in FIG. 1 or at least some featuresdiscussed may be combined into fewer devices than illustrated in FIG. 1.

Embodiments of network 152 may comprise a public network, privatenetwork, wired network, wireless network, internet protocol network,core network, radio access network, or any combination thereof, andcomply with standards of wireless communication protocol. Each networknode 150 is configured to provide a wireless communication link(s) toand from at least the NMD's 102 and dispenser 140 according to at leastone wireless communication standard, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), High Speed.Packet Access (HSPA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (e.g., WAP using802.11 standards), or any combination thereof. A network node 150 may,in some embodiments, be referred to according to the technology withwhich it supports, such as being referred to a wireless access point(WAP) for corresponding to an 802.11 wireless technology, an enhancedNode B (eNB) for corresponding to an LTE technology, a base transceiverstation (BTS) for corresponding to a GSM technology, or another type ofedge node used in wireless communications. In some embodiments, one ormore network node 150 may comprise computer elements (e.g., processors,transceivers, antennas) that facilitate wireless communication and theelements may be distributed in a location and/or co-located in physicalstructures that are separate from other elements, but collectivelycomprise the network node 150 that is communicatively coupled (e.g., viawired and/or wireless communication paths) with the network 152.

Hearing protection dispenser 140 comprises a radio transceiver,processor, memory, and circuitry that dispenses hearing protectiondevices 142 in response to release messages sent by computer system 160.The dispenser 140 may be configured to provide hearing protectionidentifiers to computer system 160, where each hearing protectionidentifier is stored in memory and corresponds with one of the hearingprotection devices 142 that is dispensed by a dispensing unit. Forexample, computer system 160 may communicate with dispenser 140 (vianetwork node 150) to request how many hearing protection devices 142 areavailable for distribution. The dispenser 140 may transmit a list ofhearing protection identifiers to application 166 in computer system160. Computer system 160 may determine that one of the hearingprotection devices 142 is suitable to mitigate hazardous noise withinthe predefined area 190, and thus send a release message to dispenser140, with the release message comprising the identifier(s) of thehearing protection devices that should be released. For example,dispenser 140 may store a list of identifiers corresponding to twentyear plugs that have an NRR rating of 32. Dispenser 140 may receive arelease message, from computer system 160, comprising instructions todispense three sets of earplugs (i.e., hearing protection devices 142).In some embodiments, the dispenser 140 may actuate a release mechanismthat releases the hearing protection devices 142 (e.g., three sets ofearplugs in this example) from a storage container. In some embodiments,dispenser 140 may dispense the hearing protection devices 142 inresponse to a user being within a defined proximity to the dispenser140, such as by dispenser 140 communicating with an radio frequencyidentity (RFID) tag associated with the user and/or allowing a user tomanually release the hearing protection device(s) 140 when the user'snoise mapping device 102 is within five feet of the dispenser 140.

Computer system 160 may be occasionally referred to as a central server,and comprises a communication bus 161, processor 162, transceiver 163,memory 164 and display 168. Memory 164 stores mapping application 166that configures processor 162 upon execution. It is understood that, insome embodiments, computer system 160 may comprise one or more serversand accesses noise data and records in datastore 156. Although display168 is illustrated as being comprised within computer system 160, it isunderstood that display 168 may be a remote display that is remotelylocated from computer system 160, but remains operable to present anoise map 170 created by execution of application 166, as furtherdiscussed herein.

Continuing discussion of FIG. 1 with further reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B,3C, and 3D, noise mapping devices 102 may be portable devices that areconfigured to sense environment sounds (i.e., environment noise), recordthe received sounds as a noise value corresponding to a level of noise(e.g., a value in units of dB), create a noise data record thatcomprises at least the noise value and a location marker at a time ofthe received sounds, determine a historical location marker based on alog stored in memory of the NMD 102, insert the historical locationmarker in the noise data record, and wirelessly transmit the noise datarecord to computer system 160 via network node 150. In some embodiments,the circuitry and elements of NMD 102 may be comprised within at leastone of a noise dosimeter, sound level meters, hearing protection devices(hpd), non-attenuating headsets, or any combination thereof. NMD 102 maybe configured with capabilities for noise monitoring and mapping, soundexposure monitoring, passive sound attenuation, active soundattenuation, leakage control, hear-through, andcommunication/entertainment, featuring passive sealing, electro-acoustictransducers, electric circuitry, and in some embodiments, hearingprotection elements.

As illustrated according to an embodiment in FIG. 3A, noise mappingdevice 102 comprises a noise map circuit 110 retained within an outerstructure or housing 109. In some embodiments, the outer housing 109 maybe worn by a user (e.g., the housing 109 being in the configuration ofan ear piece or ear plug that each have hearing protection elements).NMD 102 includes at least one outer microphone 104 and at least onespeaker 107. The sound inlet of the outer microphone 104 may be mountedto the outer structure 109 and configured to receive external noise andsounds from the environment. The outer microphone 104 is electricallycoupled to circuit 110, which is powered by power source 112 (e.g., arechargeable battery, a disposable battery, and/or an AC power supply).The NMD 102 may transmit audible sounds from speaker 107 via acousticchannel 108. In some embodiments, NMD 102 includes a second microphone106, which may be disposed on an inner portion of the housing 109 thatis facing the ear of a user. The second microphone 106 receives soundvia noise channel 105. The circuit 110 may be configured to assess soundexposure based on the signals from the microphones 104 and 106, andstore received sound data on memory in circuit 110. The NMD 102comprises a radio transceiver (e.g., transceiver configured for wirelesscommunication via cellular frequencies, WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID, etc.)that sends and receives information to and from an external computersystem (e.g., computer system 160 of FIG. 1). In some embodiments, NMD102 comprises a user interface 113 that is operable to displayinformation pertaining to the measured noise. For example, interface 113may receive commands from circuit 110 to power one of a red, yellow, orgreen exposure light (e.g., LED bulb or color on LED display). Thecircuit 110 may also be configured to provide audio alerts (via speaker107) to users regarding sound exposure status and/or instructions tobegin wearing hearing protection, switch to a type of hearing protectionthat has a higher NRR rating, directions to the location of the nearesthearing protection dispenser (e.g., dispenser 140). Various audio alertsmay be provided as the wearer approaches different levels of soundexposure as calculated using the noise map and sound data received fromvarious NMD's 102, such as transitions between low and medium andbetween medium and high exposures in each ear (i.e., sending an audioalert when predefined exposure or sound level thresholds (dB) areexceeded). In some embodiments, the circuit 110 may generate an audibledialog to the user indicating noise exposure, directions to avoid noiseexposure, directions towards the nearest dispenser 140, and/or mayfurther provide electronic signal tones representative of noise exposurelevel.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, housing 109 is configured as two earpieces that fit either over the user's ear or around the user's ear andare connected by an adjustable headband. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3B, the housing 109 (configured as two ear pieces) are attachedto hearing protection element 120, which comprise sound attenuatingmaterial disposed around the outer edge of each earpiece. In anotherembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3C, the housing 109 is configured to bein the form of cylindrical, bullet-shaped, flanged, or custom moldedearplugs for insertion into the user's ear. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3C, the housing 109 may be configured to be in ashape that provides comfortable and secure placement in the concha of auser's ear, and the housing 109 may be made of hearing protectionelement 120. In some embodiments, hearing protection element 120comprises standard polymer materials of the sort that are used forhearing aids, and ear plugs, and the hearing protection element 120 maycomprise a resilient slowly re-expanding shape retaining polymer (i.e.,a foam-like material that, when compressed, will re-expand towards theoriginal configuration that housing 109 is in when not undercompression) which includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or polyurethane(PUR) or other materials suitable for earplugs and other hearingprotection devices.

In some embodiments, a NMD 102 may provide hearing protection viahearing protection element(s) 120 that are configured to support activeand/or passive noise cancellation and may be configured to providehear-through capabilities. This may be because in some embodiments, NMD102 is worn by a user during their work shift. For example, regardinghear-through capabilities, the sound captured by the outer microphone104 may be converted to digital signals and provided to a processor ofcircuit 110. The processor may filter the external sound detected by theouter microphone 104 (by filtering the signal to ensure that sounds areonly reproduced at a safe level) and direct the speaker 107 to generatethe filtered sounds within the user's ear (thereby allowing hear-throughcapabilities). In other embodiments, such hear-through could be analog.

Regarding active noise cancellation, a microphone (e.g., outermicrophone 104) is positioned on housing 109 to measure ambient noise.Microphone 104 in one embodiment is positioned on an outside portion ofthe housing 109. A separate microphone (e.g., inner microphone 106) maybe located inside housing 109 (e.g., inside the earpiece and/or earplugillustrated in FIGS. 3B, 3C) and is disposed within the housing 109 tomeasure sound that the user's ear is exposed to after noise cancellationis performed. The measured noise from the environment (received viaouter microphone 104 and inner microphone 106) may be converted todigital signals and provided to a processor of circuit 110 (although inother embodiments, active noise reduction could be analog). The circuit110 performs noise cancellation calculations and provides a noisecancelling signal to a speaker 107 positioned to transmit cancellingnoise sounds into the ear via channel 108. Algorithms for active noisecancellation and control are generally known and thus will not bedescribed in detail herein, but may include active noise cancellingfeedback of acoustic signals converted by at least one of themicrophones (e.g., 104 and/or 106) through the speaker 107. In someembodiments, the transceiver 103 may receive a noise cancellationsettings package (which is associated with hearing protection) that isspecifically created for a user associated with NMD 102. The amount ofnoise cancellation (i.e., range of noise cancellation signals producedand transmitted via speaker 107) may be adjusted (i.e., increased and/ordecreased) by circuit 110 implementing the noise cancellation settingspackage. In some embodiments, the amount of hearing protection providedto a user may be activated, adjusted if already activated, and/ordeactivated based on saving the noise cancellation settings package tomemory of circuit 110. In some embodiments, such as illustrated as earpieces and ear plugs in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the housing 109 may include thesame microphones 104, 106, circuit 110, and speaker(s) 107 such thatnoise cancelling and hearing protection is provided to both ears of auser. When configured as a passive hearing protection device, NMD 102may not provide active noise cancellation via speaker 107, but stillhave noise attenuation material (e.g. noise protection element 120) thatdecreases the amount of external sound reaching the user's ear.

In some embodiments, a plurality of NMD's 102 are stationary in locationat a work site, such as within the defined area 190 in system 100 ofFIG. 1. Put simply, stationary NMD's 102 may be attached at certain,known locations within a work site so that their geo-coordinates (i.e.,location) are fixed relative to other portable NMD's that are worn by auser. In embodiments where an NMD 102 is configured to be stationary,the housing 109 may optionally be mounted to a surface via an attachmentanchor 111 (e.g., clips, fasteners, harness). The attachment anchor 111may be implemented to keep housing 109 in a fixed, anchored position(i.e., at a defined location that is stationary and known to the NMD 102and computer system 160 based on the coordinates of the NMD 102 notchanging over a defined time period).

Irrespective of the configuration of housing 109 and whether the NMD 102is worn by a user or remains stationary (i.e., fixed position), the NMD102 comprises circuit 110, which has an application 116 and locator unit118 (although for fixed NMD, the locator unit function could be byproviding location data to the computer/fixed NMD unit during thecommissioning phase (such that the locator unit for such fixed NMD wouldbasically be data provided to/stored within (e.g. a database/memoryaccessible by) the computer or fixed NMD unit), and/or in otherembodiments the physical locator unit for fixed NMD could be optional).In some embodiments, the transceiver 103 may include a globalpositioning system (GPS) device that sends GPS signals to locator unit118 stored within circuit 110. The application 116 and locator unit 118may be stored in memory of circuit 110 and execute via one or moreprocessors. The locator unit configures circuit 110, upon execution, toreceive location information, determine a position (i.e., location) ofthe NMD 102 and for output a corresponding location data. The locatorunit 118 may be provided with location information from transceiver 103based on received GPS signals, wireless local area network (WLAN) and/orcellular signals received from network node(s) 150, and/or Bluetoothsignals using trilateration or fingerprinting methods to determine ageographical position. The circuit 110 may comprise electric circuitryas shown in FIG. 4, which may be configured and/or programmed to achieveseveral possible functions. By way of example, in an embodiment theouter microphone M1 104 may pick up ambient (external) sound (i.e.,sounds received from one or more noise sources 154 in FIG. 1). A signalfrom the outer microphone M1 104 may be amplified via amplifier E1 802and then sampled and digitized in an analog-to-digital converter E2 804.The signal may then be fed to a processing unit E3 810 that may be oneor more digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, or acombination of the two. In some embodiments involving active noisecancellation, a signal from the inner microphone M2 106, which picks upsound in the user's ear between the hearing protection element 120 andthe user's eardrum, may be amplified via amplifier E4 812, then sampledand digitized in the analog-to-digital converter E5 815, and then fed tothe processing unit E3 810. The processor 810 may generate a digitalsignal for noise cancellation and/or to provide instructions or awarning tone to the user via execution of application 116 (which isstored in one of the memory elements discussed below). Once generated inthe processing unit E3 810, the output signal is converted to analogform in the digital-to-analog converter E7 817 and fed to the analogoutput amplifier E6 820 that drives the speaker 107. In someembodiments, the output sound signal produced by the speaker SG 107 isfed to the user's eardrum (tympanum) via channel 108. In embodimentswhere the user is not swearing the NMD 102 over and/or in their ear, thespeaker 107 may generate an output sound, tone, and/or instructionwithin the defined area 190 so that a user may be alerted to thepotentially hazardous noise event.

The processing unit E3 810, in this embodiment, is connected to memoryelements such as flash memory E13 825, (random access memory) E8 827,ROM (read only memory) E9 830, and EEPROM (electronically erasableprogrammable read only memory) E10 832. The memories or computerreadable storage devices E8, E9, E10, and E13 are used for storingcomputer programs (e.g., application 116 and locator unit 118) used tocause a processor 810 to perform algorithms such as noise cancellation,sound exposure calculations, noise mapping data. (i.e., received soundlevel data and location data), instructions and/or tones for alertingthe user via speaker 107, or any other audible dialog or sound commandedby the computer system 160 and/or other NMD's 102. The storage devicesmay also store one or more of, filter coefficients, test responses, testresults, sound exposure data, analysis data, location data, and/or otherrelevant data.

The circuit 110 may allow for each NMD 102 to be connected to otherNMD's via interface E12 840 (which may be via wireless transmissionthrough a digital radio link represented at 842 coupled to transceiver103, such as via a Bluetooth standard, WiFi protocol, cellulartechnology, etc.). A manual control signal may be generated in E11 845and fed to the processing unit E3 810 via connection 850. The controlsignal may be generated using a user interface (e.g., interface 113) viabuttons, switches, touchscreen etc. and may be used to turn the unit onand off, to change operation mode, to signal responses, or inputcommands. When a user inputs commands via the interface 113, thespecific input (e.g., via certain buttons and/or in response totouchscreen input) may be individually assigned to generate thesecontrol signals, or may control one or more different functionsdepending on different modes of operation. In an alternative embodiment,a predetermined voice signal from the user may serve as one or morecontrol signals and picked up by one of the microphones 104, 106. Thecircuit 110 may be powered by power source 112 via the power supply 855(e.g., via a primary or rechargeable battery arranged in the earterminal or in a separate unit, or may be an electrical powerconnection).

The application 116 that executed on circuit 110 detects and determinesenvironmental noise on a geographical (i.e., location) basis. Inaddition, the circuit 110 may determine individual noise patterns towhich a specific user is exposed (e.g., a worker associated with a useridentifier stored in datastore 156, which may be mapped to noise mappingdevice 102 upon being checked in/out by the worker when their work shiftbegins/ends. The noise data sent to the noise map application 166 ofcomputer system 160 may include the time or the period of the noiserecording in the defined area 190. When analyzed in combination with thesound level value, the noise data provides a measurement of intensityfor the environmental sound as it corresponded with the time of day.This allows for calculation of the average and/or overall noise exposureamount for the user over a defined period while in the defined area 190.In some embodiments, the circuit 110 may compare the received noisesignals (from one of the microphones 104, 106) with a stored noisedistribution list of known environment sounds and/or noise levels (e.g.,a list stored in memory of the circuit 110 that comprises thresholdvalues, measured in dB) thereby allowing for circuit 110 to assesswhether the environmental sounds are industrial, work, machine, or roadnoise, or whether the environmental sounds correspond with normal speechthat may not be hazardous to human ears.

The circuit 110 may reduce consumption of power from power source 112(e.g., a battery) by only storing and transmitting noise data havingcertain noise values, such as when the received sound signals exceed atleast one stored thresholds. For example, when the received noisesignals are in excess of 80 dB and continue for ten seconds, the circuit110 determines that a threshold (stored in memory) is exceeded, and thereceived signal is converted into noise data for transmission to thecomputer system 160. In some embodiments, the circuit 110 may determinethat power source 112 is not a battery, but instead corresponds with apower supply via connection with a wall outlet. When not running onbattery power, the circuit 110 (via execution of application 116) maygenerate noise data irrespective of whether the received noise signals(from the microphones 104, 106) exceed a threshold (i.e., exceed storedsound level (e.g. dB values)). In some embodiments, the circuit 110 mayuse locator unit 118 to broadcast its location to other noise mappingdevice 102 that are proximately located (i.e., within a distance thatallows a transceiver of a noise mapping device to receive thebroadcast). In some embodiments, the circuit 110 broadcasts its location(and in some embodiments also broadcasts its detected noise data) (i.e.,sends a packet comprising geolocation coordinates and an identifier ofthe noise mapping device) when it is not running off of a power source112 that is depletable when it is running off a wall unit instead of abattery that can be drained of its stored power). For example, when notrunning off a battery, the noise mapping device may locally broadcast apacket comprising geolocation coordinates, an identifier of itself, andnoise data spanning a defined time period. Local broadcasting may beaccomplished via Bluetooth and/or short-range WiFi broadcasting, suchthat other noise mapping devices may receive the broadcasted informationwhen they are within a defined distance (e.g. ten meters) of the devicedoing the broadcasting.

In some embodiments, the NMD 102 measures noise levels as atime-averaged value. For example, a time-averaged value may be the timeaverage sound level and may be colloquially referred to as the“equivalent continuous sound level” (which hereinafter may be referencedas L_(AT) which may comprise LAeq,T (e.g. A for A-weighted level, eq forequivalent and T for time duration—so for example, LAeq,8 h for an eighthour equivalent level)), which is detected and determined (e.g., by NMD102 and/or computer system 160). The equivalent continuous sound levelmay be included in the noise data sent from the NMD 102 to the computersystem 160.

Continuing with discussion of FIG. 1 with reference to FIG. 2, thesystem 100 includes computer system 160 that generates a noise map 170.FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a dynamic and real-time noise map170 that is created via computer system 160 for display (locally and/orremotely) on display 168. Application 166 executes on computer system160 receives noise data (comprising noise level values and locationinformation) from a plurality of NMD's 102 a-102 z to create a noisedistribution map (referred to as noise map) 170 across a predeterminedarea 190. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, some of the noisemapping devices may be configured to be stationary (i.e., with fixedgeolocations within predefined area 190) and at least one noise mappingdevice is portable (i.e., wearable by a user and/or attached toequipment that moves about the predefined area 190 and changesgeolocation). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the predefined areaof system 100 may comprise NMD's 102 a-102 f that are stationary suchthat they each correspond to a location that does not change over adefined time period. The defined area 190 may also comprise NMD 102 z,where NMD 102 z is not stationary and is configured to be portable withchanging location information (e.g., when worn by personnel moving aboutthe area 190). For example, in some embodiments, the NMD 102 z may beconfigured with a housing 109 and hearing protection element 120 as ahearing protection headset capable of active noise cancellation. Inanother embodiment, the NMD 102 z may be portable, but not have hearingprotection elements that allow for passive and/or active noisecancellation.

As the worker wearing the NMD 102 z moves from origin location 180 atowards a target location 180 b within the area 190, the NMD 102 z mayreceive noise signals and determine location information while movingbetween the locations. The circuit 110 of NMD 102 z may create noisedata that comprises at least a combination of the sounds measurementsand the location information (multiple geolocation coordinates) andinclude the noise data in a packet, which the NMD 102 z wirelesslytransmits application 166 via one or more network nodes 150. Althoughstationary, each of the NMD's 102 a-102 f may perform the same functionsas the moving NMD 102 z, and thus, each 102 a-102 f may independentlymeasure sounds, determine its location (such as by either pulling frommemory or comparing with a last known location coordinate), and transmitthe packet to application 166 of computer system 160. Each NMD 102 a-102z may append an identifier to the packet, where the identifiercorresponds with a unique identification of the noise mapping device,which the computer system 160 uses to determine which received packetsbelong to each NMD 102 a-102 z.

In some embodiments, one or more NMD's 102 a-102 z may determine theircurrent location within area 190 via GPS signals or by trilaterationusing multiple network nodes 150. However, there may be a certainallowable error in determining the exact location, due to thesensitivity of GPS and/or radio transceiver interface. Thus, to improvelocation accuracy, in some embodiments, the location informationdetermined by one NMD may be supplemented with information collectedfrom another NMD. For example, NMD 102 z may send a probe messagerequesting a response message from one or more NMD's 102 a-102 f (viatransceiver(s) 103 of each NMD). The NMD 102 z receives, collects, andmeasures (or derives from responses (e.g., via MAC addresses) theparameters of wireless signals transmitted by the transceivers of otherNMD's (i.e., from one or more of NMD 102 a-f). The signal parametermeasured by the receiving NMD (e.g., NMD 102 z receiving signals fromone or more of the stationary NMD's 102 a-102 f may be any appropriateindicator of distance (e.g., received signal strength indicator (RSSI),time of flight, etc.). Based upon the measured signal parameters, theNMD 102 z may determine the stationary NMD (i.e., one of the NMD's 102a-102 f) with the best measured signal parameter (e.g., the greatestrelative RSSI if RSSI is used, the shortest relative time-of-flight iftime-of-flight is used, etc.), and store the unique identifiercorresponding to the NMD that had the best measured signal parameter(e.g., NMD 102 z determining that NMD 102 a has the best measured signalparameter and thus NMD 102 z stores the unique identifier of NMD 102 afor later use when transmitting to computer system 160).

In some embodiments, once the NMD 102 z determines its own locationinformation and receives the identifier from the other NMD that had thebest measured signal parameter (e.g., NMD 102 a), the circuit 110 of NMD102 z creates and/or includes at least four portions of information innoise data that is sent to the mapping application 166 executing oncomputer system 160. The four portions of the noise data may include 1)the values of measured sound level determined from the received signals(via microphone(s) 2) the location information determined by circuit110, 3) the NMD's own identifier (e.g., NMD 102 z from the aboveexample), and 4) the identifier and signal measurements from the otherNMD that had the best measured signal parameter (e.g., NMD 102 a fromthe above example). The circuit 110 may then transmit the noise data(comprising the four portions) to mapping application 166 of computersystem 160 via network node 150.

Upon receipt of the packet, the application 166 executing on computersystem 160 saves the noise data (e.g., in memory 164 and/or datastore156) and attempts to determine location of the NMD 102 that sent theinformation (e.g., in this example, NMD 102 z). If only locationinformation from the NMD 102 z is included in the noise data, thenapplication 166 may extract the geolocation coordinates from the noisedata and plot them according to x and y coordinates against a digitalblueprint corresponding to the predefined area 190 (i.e., pulling adigital blue print from datastore 156 and overlaying the geolocationcoordinates on the digital blueprint). In some embodiments, the digitalblue print may be an electronic map file that corresponds with thepredefined area 190 known to computer system 160. In embodiments wherethe NMD 102 sends noise data that comprises information from otherdevices (e.g., NMD 102 z sending noise data with identification andsignal parameters pertaining to NMD 102 a), the application 166 mayverify the accuracy of the location of NMD 102 (e.g., NMD 102 z in theabove example). In order to determine how accurate the locationinformation is that was determined by NMD 102 z, the mapping application166 extracts the signal parameter measurements and identifier from thenoise data, and estimates a location of the NMD 102 z based upon thesignal measurements.

If the signal measurement is based upon RSSI then the assumption uponwhich the estimate is based is that the signal attenuates in a mannerthat is proportionate to distance. By knowing the amplitude of thetransmitted signal and amplitude measured by the NMD 102 z, theapplication 166 can calculate a distance from the NMD 102 z to each ofthe other noise mapping devices (e.g., 102 a-102 f which are stationaryand have geolocations known to the application 166). By knowing thedistance from the NMD 102 z to each of the other NMD's 102 a-102 f, theapplication 166 triangulates the position of the NMD 102 z bydetermining the intersection of the distances from each of the otherNMD's 102 a-102 f to the NMD 102 z. If the signal measurement is basedupon time of flight, then a similar process is used. In this case, theapplication 166 determines distance based upon the time of flight of thesignal from the NMD 102 z to each of the other NMD's 102 a 102 f andtriangulates in the same manner.

Irrespective of verifying and determining the location of NMD 102 zusing time of flight and/or RSSI, the application 166 may also comparethe estimated location of the NMD 102 z with the known location of otherNMD's 102 a-102 f to obtain a location error measurement or value. Bythis, the application 166 may perform the initial determination oflocation for NMD 102 z when first creating the noise map 170, andthereafter may refresh the map dynamically, with new locationinformation, and append the information with the location errormeasurement or value. This may improve the processing efficiency of thecomputer system 160, while also improving the battery life of the NMD102 z due to the NMD 102 z not having to constantly probe other NMD's(e.g., 102 a-102 f) each time noise data is sent, but rather may beperformed once or periodically.

The location error measurement or value may be monitored over a periodof time to detect a gradual or rapid degradation of location accuracy.Once the degradation exceeds a defined threshold value stored indatastore 156, the application 166 may push an alert message to display168 and/or record the event in a log stored in datastore 156. This noisemeasurement and location mapping information and reporting processes maybe performed by each NMD 102 (e.g., each NMD 102 a-102 z). In doing so,the application 166 obtains a location error measurement value for eachof the NMD's 102 a-102 z. The location error measurements may be used asa correction factor to correct the estimated locations of the NMD's 102a-102 z. The application 166 may adjust its location estimate fir aspecific NMD 102 (e.g., one of NMD's 102 a-102 z) by taking intoconsideration the location errors for several neighboring NMD's.

The application 166 provides display 168 with a generated noise map 170,such that a predefined area 190 is depicted on the noise map 170, suchas illustrated in FIG. 2. Included on the noise map 170 may be adesignated location of each of the stationary NMD's 102 a-102 f and themoving NMD 102 z, where NMD 102 z is centered at location 174 in thenoise map 170. 100511 Shown on the display 168 around the location 174of the moving NMD 102 z may be a bounding box 172 that indicates theestimated location error of the NMD 102 z. For example, if the locationerror of the other stationary NMD's 102 a-102 f (closest to theestimated location of the moving NMD 102 z) indicates an error of twofeet, then the bounding box 172 may be shown around the NMD 102 z withsides having at least a length of two feet. Since the error is a vectorincluding x and y components, it is also possible to have a boundingrectangle 172 in which the length of sides are at least thecorresponding x and y amounts. However, the bounding box 172 may not beexactly the size of the error measurements as there may be other sourcesof error that should be considered and that may suggest that the box 172be larger. Further, rather than a rectangle, the error may be indicatedas an area surrounding the estimated location where the shape and sizeof the area may be proportional to the error vector.

With the noise map 170 created, application 166 may determine atrajectory 180 along which NMD 102 z is traveling based on the locationof the NMD 102 z, locations of the other NMD's 102 a-102 f, and originlocation 180 a that is pulled from historical noise data and locationinformation previously sent to the application 166. From this, theapplication 166 identifies a target location 180 b corresponding to thedirection NMD 102 z is moving towards, and then creates a trajectoryline (or path) 180 for display on noise map 170. The application 166also extracts the noise values from the noise data received by each NMD102 (e.g., 102 a-102 z). Based on the sound level values sent from eachNMD 102 within the defined area 190, the determined locations of theNMD's 102 a-102 z, the application 166 determines concentrations ofnoise levels and determines a location of the noise source 154. Forexample, the application 166 may use the noise data received from NMD's102 a-102 z to determine that the sound level values from NMD 102 f arethe highest, with sound level values from NMD's 102 e, 102 b, and 102 zbeing next highest (as measured in sound pressure levels (e.g. dBvalues)). The application 166 may assign and display zones of noiseintensity on the noise map 170, and in some embodiments, may include adifferent color in each zone. For example, application 166 may define afirst zone 191 to be within a first defined distance from noise source154 (e.g., within 10 feet of noise source 154), a second zone 192 to bewithin a second defined distance of noise source 154 (e.g., within 20feet of noise source 154), a third zone 193 to be within a third defineddistance of noise source 154 (within 30 feet of noise source 154), and afourth zone 194 to be within a fourth defined distance of noise source154 (within 40 feet of noise source 154). In some embodiments, theapplication 166 may provide each zone with a color intensity thatmatches the intensity of sound produced by the noise source, where soundlevels below 50 dB are colored in green (e.g., fourth zone 194), soundlevels between 50-80 dB colored in yellow (e.g., third zone 193), soundlevels between 80-100 dB colored in red (e.g., second zone 192) andsound levels greater than 100 dB colored in brown (e.g., first zone191).

As the sound level values received from the NMD's 102 a-102 z change,the application 166 determine an noise origin 182 a of noise source 154and the current position of noise source 154. The application 166determines a target noise endpoint 182 b and creates a noise sourcetrajectory 182 based on the noise data (comprising noise values andlocation information) from each of the NMD's 102 a-102 f and thedetermined location of the noise source 154. In some embodiments, theapplication 166 may detect that NMD 102 z will be in danger of beingwithin a hazardous noise zone (e.g., the first zone 191 and/or secondzone 192) due to the trajectory 180 of the NMD 102 z and the trajectory182 of noise source 154 intersecting at intersection location 184. Insome embodiments, the application 166 may determine the distance fromthe intersection point 184 to the NMD's 102 z current location, andafter finding the average velocity of NMD 102 z based on the measurednoise data from NMD 102 z, the application 166 determines the estimatedtime left before NMD 102 z is in danger of incurring a hazardous noiseevent (e.g., being exposed to sound levels above a defined (dB) valuestored in datastore 156, such as 80 dB). In some embodiments, theapplication 166 may push the noise map 170 to one or more displays 168,which may be accessible for view by the user wearing NMD 102 z. In someembodiments, application 166 pushes an alert to NMD 102 z with thatpresents an audio, visual, and/or haptic warning to the user of NMD 102z. For example, application 166 may warn NMD 102 z that it is headinginto a zone that is producing hazardous noise.

In some embodiments, the application 166 may use the identifier of NMD102 z to access datastore 156 and identify the user currently assignedto the NMD 102 z. The application 166 may determine the level of hearingprotection associated with the user currently using NMD 102 z, such asdetermining that the user should not be exposed to sound levels above 80dB. The computer system 160 uses application 166 to obtain settingsinformation corresponding to the amount of hearing protection for theuser. For example, if the application 166 determines that NMD 102 zprovides hearing protection via hearing protection elements and activenoise cancellation (e.g., hearing protection elements that areconfigured around the ear and have circuitry 110 that provides activenoise cancellation), then the application 166 may push the settingsinformation to the NMD 102 z, where the settings information comprises athreshold value for the allowable sound level of the user. The NMD 102 zmay receive the settings information and update an existing thresholdvalue with the new threshold value from the received settingsinformation. This may allow circuit 110 of NMD 102 z to provide activenoise cancellation so that sounds heard by the user will be mitigated tobelow the threshold level (e.g., below 80 dB).

In some embodiments, the application 166 may determine that MOD 102 zmay not have adequate hearing protection capabilities (e.g., not havingactive noise cancellation capabilities and/or the hearing protectionelements do not provide a high enough NRR value for the user). Forexample, if (in an embodiment) the NMD 102 z is a hear-through device,the application 166 may push an alert to NMD 102 z, which upon receipt,provides instructions via the speaker of NMD to head towards the nearesthearing protection dispenser 140. As the user is walking towards thedispenser 140 based on the directions sent by the application 166, theapplication 166 may also send a release message to dispenser 140 vianetwork node 150, where the release message commands the dispenser 140to provide the user wearing the NMD 102 z with a hearing protectiondevice 142 (e.g., an set of ear plugs and/or ear muffs).

(A) Regarding a Moving Noise Source that is a Potential Hazard

In some instances, the computer system might determine from noise data(e.g. the noise data sent from each of the communicatively coupled NMDs)if there is a moving noise source. For example, this might beaccomplished in some embodiments by identifying the characteristics ofthe sound, cross-referencing the location information of the variousnoise monitoring devices (e.g. which detect such sound characteristics)with the external sound level that the devices pick up from theidentified sound source, and using the difference level from variousnoise monitoring devices to identify/determine the path (and/or speed)of the moving noise source. In some embodiments, the computer systemmight compare the sounds levels from the detected noise data with soundslevels stored in a database, and based on the comparison, determine whatis the cause of the moving noise source (e.g. the identification of thevehicle or other moving machinery that may likely be the cause of themoving noise). The computer system may project a trajectory oranticipated course of movement for the moving noise source (which may bepresented on a display in communication with the computer). The computermight then determine if any NMDs are located along the trajectory of themoving noise source and send a warning to any such NMD along thetrajectory (so that the user can be aware of a possible physical dangerthat they might not hear due to wearing of the NMD). Optionally, thecomputer might also consider movement (e.g. trajectory) of the variousother NMDs in the area so that the computer may determine if one or moreNMD is likely to intercept the trajectory of the moving noise source(such that a warning might be sent to each NMD that is affected). Inother words, in some embodiments, the computer might account for boththe trajectory of the NMD and the trajectory of the moving noise sourceto determine if a warning (regarding a potential physical hazard to theuser of the NMD) should be sent to any specific NMD. The warning sent tothe NMD might comprise one or more of the following: a soundbeacon/tone/beeping, that varies in volume based on proximity to movingnoise source (e.g. volume increases as moving noise source approachesthe NMD); adjustment of hear-through settings (so user is more likely tohear moving noise source instead of another electronic communication,thereby allowing the user to avoid interception with the noise source);activating a vibration (e.g., via a vibration unit not shown) thatvaries in intensity based on proximity to moving noise source; change totactility of a user interface on the NMD; three dimensional audio;and/or activation of a light that varies in intensity as the NMD getscloser to the moving noise source.

(B) Regarding Sharing of a Detected Alarm Between Devices

In some instances, the computer might use the generated noise map todetect an alarm based on one or more areas of the noise mapcorresponding to a higher sounds level than others and/or a specificfrequency of sound not normally associated with that zone/area. So forexample, if the sound levels are above a certain threshold, such asmultiple noise sources each producing sounds above 90 dB and/or an alarmof a certain frequency sounding (e.g. via broadcast speakers, forexample of a PA system), then the computer system may instruct NMD's inthe area to activate noise cancelling (if possible), warn certain NMDsthat other NMD's have detected potentially hazardous noise levels in thearea (e.g. in proximity or abutting the alarm zone), direct one or NMD'stoward a hearing protection dispenser location, and/or alert the user ofall noise monitoring devices in the area/zone and/or adjacentareas/zones and/or moving towards such areas/zones. This type ofadvanced alarm detection may help to provide for advanced notificationto users/workers in an affected zone who might not otherwise hear thehigh sound levels (or alarm broadcast via a speaker in the room) due tothe hearing protection that they are wearing (e.g., a NMD with hearingprotection elements). The computer system might further be configured todetect if a NMD is (in an adjacent zone and) moving towards the alarmzone (based on trajectory of NMD's movement via use of location dataover time) and transmit a warning (e.g., pre-alarm) to such NMD. Inother words, the computer could use the detection of an alarm in a zone,in conjunction with the movement trajectory information about specificNMD outside the zone (for example in adjacent zones) to send either analarm or a lesser warning to additional NMD's which might be outside theaffected zone but which still might benefit from knowing about the alarmin a particular zone. In this way, additional workers might be protectedand/or steered clear of potentially dangerous zones (e.g. essentiallyproviding an earlier warning system to those outside the affected zone).

(C) Regarding Comparing Location of a User's NMD in the Noise Map to theSpecific Individualized Hearing Threshold for that User

In yet other instances, the NMD might be associated with a user (e.g.,via the user checking out the NMD by swiping an RFID tag with theworker's identifier, which is then sent to the computer system and thecomputer associates the worker's identifier with one of the identifierscorresponding, to the NMD they are checking out, or otherwise byassociating the noise monitoring device serial number and user ID, forexample within a database), and the computer might further be coupled toa database storing individual user hearing test data and settings (e.g.thresholds and/or exposure tolerance corresponding to sound levels for auser, measured in dB, which may be lower than the standard threshold).Then, the computer may correlate user's NMD location with noise level(via the noise data and location on the noise map) and compare to thedatabase to determine (in an individualized way) if a warning, should besent to a specific user's NMD (for example, if the specific user wearingthe NMD is more sensitive and should not be exposed to such loud noiseand/or such frequency of noise, then the computer system may send awarning to that user's NMD before other NMDs in the area). The computercould then transmit a warning to the specific user's NMD recommending,movement to another zone based on the noise map (e.g. in relation to theuser's individualized threshold information and location on the nosemap). Additionally (similar to the discussion above about accounting forthe movement/trajectory of specific NMD), the computer might also detectif a NMD is (in an adjacent zone and) moving towards the zone havingnoise in excess of the user's threshold (based on trajectory of NMDmovement based on location data over time in comparison to the noisemap) and transmit a warning (e.g. recommendation) to such NMD (e.g.regarding the amount of time the user might spend in that zone and/or analternative zone better suited to the user).

(D) Regarding Movement of One or More NMDs towards a Potential NoiseDanger Zone

Additionally (similar to the discussion above about accounting for themovement/trajectory of specific NMD), the computer might also detect ifa NMD is (in an adjacent zone and) moving towards a noise danger zone(i.e., a predefined distance from a noise source such that sounds withinthe zone are measurable to be above a defined sound level, such as 100dB), for example having noise in excess of the user's threshold or overa certain sound pressure (e.g. dB) level (based on trajectory of NMDmovement based on location data over time in comparison to the noisemap) and transmit a warning (e.g. recommendation) to such NMD (e.g.regarding the amount of time the user might spend in that zone and/or analternative zone better suited to the user). This might be particularlyuseful if the user has a lower hearing threshold, such that certainzones should be avoided. Then, for example, the computer might access adatabase with the individual user information (as discussed above), anduse that in conjunction with the noise map and the trajectory of the NMDfor that user to issue a warning before a worker enters a zone whichmight damage his hearing (so that the user would not even enter such adangerous noise zone).

(E) Regarding Suggesting or Dispensing Hearing Protection to IncomingUsers Based on Noise Map Information for that User's Work Zone

In some instances, the noise map might be used to help prepare anincoming worker for the specific conditions in the work zone (i.e.,predefined area displayable on the noise map and corresponding to wherethe user works) they will be entering (e.g. using sensed noise data fromwithin that zone from NMDs). So for example, for a new worker cominginto a facility for which a noise map is currently being generated viaNMDs already in the area, the computer might determine the zone (of thenoise map) that the user will be entering (e.g., based on the userchecking out a NMD and the computer tracking the movement of the uservia the NMD's transmitted location information) and suggest/recommend orprovide (e.g. automatically dispense) appropriate hearing protectiondevice to that worker (based on the noise map) before the worker entersa dangerous zone (e.g., dispensing ear plugs for the user to wear). Insome instances, the user's specific hearing information/threshold mightalso be considered when determining the appropriate hpd for thatspecific user in the specific work zone (e.g., updating a NMD withsettings information that updates noise cancellation thresholds for theuser's NMD as discussed above). The computer could alsodetermine/estimate the appropriate amount of time that an incoming userwith a specific type of hearing protection can safely spend in the workzone (e.g., wearing a NMD that is configured with hearing protectionelements and/or wearing hearing protection separately from the NMD wornby the user), and for example, notify the incoming worker up front orprovide a signal warning of the expiration of such estimated time andthe need for the worker to move out of the zone.

(F) Regarding Checking Hearing Protection Level vs. Sounds in the NoiseMap to Determine Adequacy of Hearing Protection

In some instances, the computer might compare information for thelocation and type of NMD the user is wearing with noises and zones onthe noise map, which in turn allows the computer to determine if theuser has sufficient hearing protection in place, and if not (e.g., theuser's NMD not having hearing portion elements (such as being configuredas an ear plug or ear muffs) or the user's hearing protection device nothaving a high enough NRR to protect against the noise levels in thezone, thus considering the user's hearing protection to beinsufficient/inadequate), and to transmit a warning to the user's NMD ifthe user's type of hearing protection is found to be inadequate. In someinstances, the user's individual NMD may determine if the hearingprotection provided by that NMD is adequate (e.g., in the same mannerdiscussed for the computer), and if not, the user's NMD may announce awarning to the user before receiving instructions from the centralcomputer system to do so. The pooled noise data of the data map mightalso be analyzed (e.g. by computer) to determine over time if hearingprotection procurement for a facility and/or a zone/area within afacility should be altered (for example, if more protective hearingprotection is needed, based on the collected noise exposure over time).In some instances, each NMD may compare received noise levels with thenoise level presented on the noise map in order to serve as a check(i.e., verification) for whether the user's NMD is detecting noisecorrectly and thus detect possible malfunctions which may be reported tothe computer system. If the sound values compared by the NMD using thenoise map do not correlate, the NMD may determine that a malfunctionexists, and thus send a message to the computer system indicating thatdata from the noise map data is inconsistent with the noise levelsdetected by the NMD. In response, the computer may send a notice messageto the NMD, noting that the NMD should undergo maintenance, such as byrestarting the power to the circuits or updating values stored in thememory of the NMD.

(G) Regarding Estimating Remaining Time User may Spend in Zone Based onNoise Map

In some instances, the computer might generate an estimate of time tospend in the zone (based on location, type of NMD (e.g., whether the NMDis configured with hearing protection elements or not), noise map,and/or individual worker hearing info.) and transmit to the NMD. Such anestimate might also account for user's NMD movement or projectedmovement, to provide a better estimate of the time remaining for theuser in the work area before the user exceeds a threshold for safeexposure to sounds. In some instances, the individual data from the NMDdetecting noise could be compared to the noise map (which may includeother displayed information), in order to serve as a check for whetherthe individual NMD is detecting noise correctly (e.g. to detect possiblemalfunction). If a possible malfunction is detected, then the estimate(of time remaining in the work area) might be calculated based on thetime the user has already spent in the area and the data provided by thenoise map, rather than relying solely on the individual NMD's detectionof sounds. Further, a notice might be sent to the NMD, noting that itneeds maintenance.

(H) Regarding Altering Configuration of NMD's that Provide HearingProtection Based on Moving Noise Source Trajectory Info. from Noise Map

In still other embodiments, the computer might use noise data (e.g.received from the NMD and used in the creation and display of the noisemap) regarding a moving noise source to alter the set-up/configurationof one or more NMD's (that have hearing protection elements) and whichare moving along a trajectory that may intersect the moving noisesource. For example, the computer may alter/tune active noisecancellation (e.g., adjust the amount of noise cancellation to providefor more noise cancellation and thus hearing protection corresponding toa defined NRR) for any NMD that is configured with active noisecancellation and potentially will enter a hazardous zone while themoving noise source is traveling along its trajectory. The computer mayreceive noise data from one or more NMD in proximity to the moving noisesource, determine if any other NMD are located along the trajectory(and/or within the zone) and that would need modification to betteraddress that moving noise source to protect the user's hearing, andtransmit a control signal to such NMD along the trajectory so that thenoise cancellation settings are modifying on the NMD in advance of suchNMD being in proximity to the moving noise source that would exceed athreshold for acceptable noise levels. As discussed above, the computersystem may also detect if a NMD is moving towards the trajectory of themoving noise source (based on NMD's own trajectory calculated based onlocation information determined by the NMD over time) and alter theset-up/configuration of such NMD by activating noise cancellation and/orthresholds for noise cancellation. In other words, the configuration ofthe NMD (which has hearing protection elements) might be altered bytaking into account the relative movement of the moving noise sourcerelative to the NMD, to more finely tune the hearing protectionfunctions of the NMD (for example, adjusting frequency ranges of anactive noise cancellation filter of the NMD).

in some embodiments, the system might further comprise one or more fixedNMD's (i.e., NMD's that are not worn by the user but instead remain at astationary position within a defined area of the noise map, which mightinclude semi-fixed monitors installed for short duration for example).Each NMD that is stationary may comprise the same elements as NMDs whichare portable (e.g. having a microphone, circuit, transceiverconfigured/operable to communicate with the computer). In someembodiments, a user's work area have one or more stationary NMD suchthat the noise map might be generated using a combination of noise datafrom NMD's that are fixed (i.e., have a stationary, non-moving locationin the area) and NMD's that are portable, thereby allowing for changinglocation as the user wears the NMD and moves about the area. In suchinstances, the use of noise data from NMD's which are fixed and datafrom NMD's that are portable allow for enhanced location accuracy in thecreation and refreshing of the noise map. This may allow for a system inwhich a noise map is generated (e.g. for a facility from multiple noisemonitoring devices (which might be fixed and/or mobile), and then usedto dynamically adjust NMD's with hearing protection capabilities (e.g.,with hearing protection elements and/or noise cancellation) so as toimprove the safety of and enhance the user's productivity by shieldingthe worker from dangerous noise levels before they are exposed to them.It should also be understood that embodiments of NMDs that areimplemented in systems disclosed herein may or may not have hearingprotection features, such that one of ordinary skill in the art wouldconsider a NMD with hearing protection elements to be a type of hearingprotection device. The NMDs of the present disclosure may not berequired to have hearing protection elements, and thus the user may—insome embodiments—have hearing protection devices that are independent ofthe NMD's described herein (such that an independent/separate NMD isconfigured without hearing protection and used alone or in conjunctionwith a user wearing a separate hearing protection device that does nothave noise detection, monitoring, or mapping capabilities). Thus, anyreference above to NMD could also include an independent hearingprotection device instead of or in addition to, an NMD that hasintegrated hearing protection elements.

As noted above, in some embodiments the noise map could be used incombination with a worker location tracking system, such that theperson/worker not wearing any noise monitoring NMD/hpd could still havetheir noise exposure data determined and stored by the computer bycombining the worker's location throughout the work day compared withthe noise levels available through the mapped data (e.g. from the NMD)at the time that such person/worker is located in a given area/zone(with known noise level in such zone(s) due to the noise map) (e.g.correlating such a worker's location with the measured noise data fromother NMD). In other words, the noise map could be used in combinationwith a worker location tracking system, such that a person not wearing anoise monitoring HPD/NMD could still have their noise exposure datastored by the computer (e.g. by combining their detected locationthroughout the working day compared with the noise levels measuredthrough the mapped data corresponding to such locations for thatperson). Due to the noise map, we know the noise level in a givenarea/zone (for example of a facility); so if we know who is working inthat area (due to the location tracking system/worker location device)we can calculate their noise exposure (even if the worker moves acrossmultiple zones during the work day). In such embodiments, the locationof the worker/user (e.g. without a NMD/hpd) would still be needed, forexample via a worker location tracking system and/or worker locatordevice/unit (which might for example include a locator device worn bythe worker/user (e.g. GPS) and/or (fixed/separate/independent) locatordevice/sensors/system operable/configured to detect user/workerlocation. Such a worker location tracking system (e.g. which mightinclude a worker locator device) would typically communicate with thecomputer (e.g. providing worker location data to the computer). Thecomputer could link/correlate worker location data with the noise dataof the noise map (and store this calculated noise exposure data in adatabase) to allow for that worker's estimated (e.g. approximate) noiseexposure to be determined. Such an estimated noise exposure could beused to monitor noise exposure without the need for personalized NMD(e.g. worn by the workers) and/or could be used to monitor the noiseexposure for certain workers who might not be wearing NMD. For example,this approach may be particularly useful for noise areas/zones that arearound the 80-85 dB levels, which are borderline areas that may notnormally require the use of hearing protection. In some embodiments, thecomputer might transmit an alert/warning (e.g. by speaker on the workerlocator device or PA system, etc.) to such worker(s) without NMD, forexample warning of approaching or exceeding threshold/limit and/or needto move away from the zone (and perhaps directing such worker(s) to asafe zone based on the noise map).

As also noted above, the noise map (e.g. pooled noise data) might alsobe used to listen for (e.g. detect) equipment malfunction based on noiselevel changes (e.g. excessive noise, for example above a specificlevel/threshold) and/or specific detected noise (e.g. specificfrequencies), typically outside the norm for the area/zone, and in someinstances the location data for (e.g. associated with) the various noisedata can be used to interpolate/estimate the location of the malfunction(e.g. the source, perhaps in comparison to prior readings over time). Sofor example, the pooled noise data from the plurality of noisemonitoring devices is actively listening to the machinery of thefacility, and detecting abnormalities in the sound of themachinery/equipment may predict machine failures, potential downtimes,and/or need for maintenance. This may allow for rapid deployment ofmaintenance (personnel), for example possibly in the early stages ofmalfunction before significant equipment damage occurs or significantrisk of injury arises. Similarly, by recording in memory the noise map(pooled noise data) over time, it may be possible to employ noiselevel/map replay for recreating and/or problem solving (for example inthe event of failure and/or alarm event).

Other potential uses of the pooled noise data might include analysis ofa dynamic noise map (e.g. pooled noise data over time) to improve jobplanning system, for example so that the job planning system (whichmight be software running on the computer) is able todetermine/calculate the optimum work time for specified tasks by usersbased on noise data for a given period of time (e.g. within a workshift), and/or to determine appropriate staffing for specific tasksand/or areas/zones in the facility based on user exposure history and/orindividualized hearing threshold or exposure tolerance; and/orpreemptively deciding when to add noise cancellation (e.g. at certainfrequencies) when threshold for area/zone is approaching, and/or NMDreacting to the environment (e.g. sensed noise as correlated by thenoise map) by adjusting hear through or noise cancelling function'swithin the HPD (for example, in instances other than merely to accountfor moving noise source as discussed in more detail in sections (a) and(h) above). Furthermore, NMD gathering noise data for correlation into anoise map could also be used in some embodiments for environmental (e.g.external to facility) noise mapping. For example, the noise map couldinclude noise from a facility or from an arrangement (ex: concert) (e.g.external noise projected out of a facility). Under some circumstances,there can be limits to how much noise a facility or arrangement can “letout” (e.g. noise pollution). Under such circumstances, monitoring thenoise at the border of the facility or arrangement and/or close torelevant “receivers” (e.g. neighbors) and storing this for documentationmight be valuable (for example, to allow for re-engineering to reducenoise pollution). So for example, (fixed) NMD may be located outside(e.g. around the perimeter) of the facility and/or in proximity torelevant receivers (e.g. neighbors), and their noise data could allowthe computer to generate a noise map indicative of external noiseprojected out of the facility (e.g. noise pollution). In someembodiments, the computer might also analyze the noise data to identifyspecific noise sources (e.g. based on the known frequency range ofcertain equipment) to help identify particular culprits with respect tonoise pollution, which might be candidates for re-engineering to reducenoise. These and other uses for the pooled noise data are contemplated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer system 380 suitable for implementing oneor more embodiments disclosed herein, such as features of system 100 inFIGS. 1-4, including one or more computer system 160, datastore 156,network node 150, dispenser 140, and operations disclosed iii FIGS. 2,3A-3D, and 4. The computer system 380 includes a processor 382 (whichmay be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is incommunication with memory devices including secondary storage 384, readonly memory (RUM) 386, random access memory (RAM) 388, input/output(I/O) devices 390, and network connectivity devices 392. It isunderstood that use of the term “memory” in the claims does not includetransitory signals. The processor 382 may be implemented as one or moreCPU chips.

It is understood that by programming and/or loading executableinstructions onto the computer system 380, at least one of the CPU 382,the RAM 388, and the ROM 386 are changed, transforming the computersystem 380 in part into a particular machine or apparatus having thenovel functionality taught by the present disclosure. It is fundamentalto the electrical engineering and software engineering arts thatfunctionality that can be implemented by loading executable softare intoa computer can be converted to a hardware implementation by well-knowndesign rules. Decisions between implementing a concept in softwareversus hardware typically hinge on considerations of stability of thedesign and numbers of units to be produced rather than any issuesinvolved in translating from the software domain to the hardware domain.Generally, a design that is still subject to frequent change may bepreferred to be implemented in software, because re-spinning a hardwareimplementation is more expensive than re-spinning a software design.Generally, a design that is stable that will be produced in large volumemay be preferred to be implemented in hardware, for example in anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), because for largeproduction runs the hardware implementation may be less expensive thanthe software implementation. Often a design may be developed and testedin a software form and later transformed, by well-known design rules, toan equivalent hardware implementation in an application specificintegrated circuit that hardwires the instructions of the software. Inthe same manner as a machine controlled by a new ASIC is a particularmachine or apparatus, likewise a computer that has been programmedand/or loaded with executable instructions may be viewed as a particularmachine or apparatus.

Additionally, after the system 380 is turned on or booted, the CPU 382may execute a computer program or application. For example, the CPU 382may execute software or firmware stored in the 386 or stored in the RAM388. In some cases, on boot and/or when the application is initiated,the CPU 382 may copy the application or portions of the application fromthe secondary storage 384 to the RAM 388 or to memory space within theCPU 382 itself, and the CPU 382 may then execute instructions that theapplication is comprised of. In some cases, the CPU 382 may copy theapplication or portions of the application from memory accessed via thenetwork connectivity devices 392 or via the devices 390 to the RAM 388or to memory space within the CPU 382, and the CPU 382 may then executeinstructions that the application is comprised of. During execution, anapplication may load instructions into the CPU 382, for example loadsome of the instructions of the application into a cache of the CPU 382.In some contexts, an application that is executed may be said toconfigure the CPU 382 to do something, e.g., to configure the CPU 382 toperform the function or functions promoted by the subject application.When the CPU 382 is configured in this way by the application, the CPU382 becomes a specific purpose computer or a specific purpose machine,sometimes referred to as a special purpose machine.

The secondary storage 384 is typically comprised of one or more diskdrives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data andas an over-flow data storage device if RAM 388 is not large enough tohold all working data. Secondary storage 384 may be used to storeprograms which are loaded into RAM 388 when such programs are selectedfor execution. The ROM 386 is used to store instructions and perhapsdata which are read during program execution. ROM 386 is a non-volatilememory device which typically has a small memory capacity relative tothe larger memory capacity of secondary storage 384. The RAM 388 is usedto store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to bothROM 386 and RAM 388 is typically faster than to secondary storage 384.The secondary storage 384, the RAM 388, and/or the ROM 386 may bereferred to in some contexts as computer readable storage media and/ornon-transitory computer readable media.

I/O devices 390 may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches,dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tapereaders, or other well-known input devices.

The network connectivity devices 392 may take the form of modems, modembanks, Ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards,serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface(FDDI) cards, wireless local area network (WLAN) cards, radiotransceiver cards that promote radio communications using protocols suchas code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), long-term evolution (LTE), worldwideinteroperability for microwave access (WiMAX), near field communications(NFC), radio frequency identity (RFID), and/or other air interfaceprotocol radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network devices.These network connectivity devices 392 may enable the processor 382 tocommunicate with the Internet or one or more intranets. With such anetwork connection, it is contemplated that the processor 382 mightreceive information from the network, or might output information to thenetwork in the course of performing the above-described method steps.Such information, which is often represented as a sequence ofinstructions to be executed using processor 382, may be received fromand outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computerdata signal embodied in a carrier wave.

Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executedusing processor 382 for example, may be received from and outputted tothe network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signalor signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signalembedded in the carrier wave, or other types of signals currently usedor hereafter developed, may be generated according to several methodswell-known to one skilled in the art. The baseband signal and/or signalembedded in the carrier wave may be referred to in some contexts as atransitory signal.

The processor 382 executes instructions, codes, computer programs,scripts which it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk(these various disk based systems may all be considered secondarystorage 384), flash drive, ROM 386, RAM 388, or the network connectivitydevices 392. While only one processor 382 is shown, multiple processorsmay be present. Thus, while instructions may be discussed as executed bya processor, the instructions may be executed simultaneously, serially,or otherwise executed by one or multiple processors. Instructions,codes, computer programs, scripts, and/or data that may be accessed fromthe secondary storage 384, for example, hard drives, floppy disks,optical disks, and/or other device, the ROM 386, and/or the RAM 388 maybe referred to in some contexts as non-transitory instructions and/ornon-transitory information.

In an embodiment, the computer system 380 may comprise two or morecomputers in communication with each other that collaborate to perform atask. For example, but not by way of limitation, an application may bepartitioned in such a way as to permit concurrent and/or parallelprocessing of the instructions of the application. Alternatively, thedata processed by the application may be partitioned in such a way as topermit concurrent and/or parallel processing of different portions of adata set by the two or more computers. In an embodiment, virtualizationsoftware may be employed by the computer system 380 to provide thefunctionality of a number of servers that is not directly bound to thenumber of computers in the computer system 380. For example,virtualization software may provide twenty virtual servers on fourphysical computers. In an embodiment, the functionality disclosed abovemay be provided by executing the application and/or applications in acloud computing environment. Cloud computing may comprise providingcomputing services via a network connection using dynamically scalablecomputing resources. Cloud computing may be supported, at least in part,by virtualization software. A cloud computing environment may beestablished by an enterprise and/or may be hired on an as-needed basisfrom a third party provider. Some cloud computing environments maycomprise cloud computing resources owned and operated by the enterpriseas well as cloud computing resources hired and/or leased from a thirdparty provider.

In an embodiment, some or all of the functionality disclosed above maybe provided as a computer program product. The computer program productmay comprised on one or more non transitory computer readable storagemedium having computer usable program code embodied therein to implementthe functionality disclosed above. The computer program product maycomprise data structures, executable instructions, and other computerusable program code. The computer program product may be embodied inremovable computer storage media, non-removable computer storage media,or any combination therein. The removable computer readable storagemedium may comprise, without limitation, a paper tape, a magnetic tape,magnetic disk, an optical disk, a solid state memory chip, for exampleanalog magnetic tape, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) disks,floppy disks, jump drives, digital cards, multimedia cards, and others.The computer program product may be suitable for loading, by thecomputer system 380, at least portions of the contents of the computerprogram product to the secondary storage 384, to the ROM 386, to the RAM388, and/or to other non-volatile memory and volatile memory of thecomputer system 380. The processor 382 may process the executableinstructions and/or data structures in part by directly accessing thecomputer program product, for example by reading from a CD-ROM diskinserted into a disk drive peripheral of the computer system 380.Alternatively, the processor 382 may process the executable instructionsand/or data structures by remotely accessing the computer programproduct, for example by downloading the executable instructions and/ordata structures from a remote server through the network connectivitydevices 392. The computer program product may comprise instructions thatpromote the loading and/or copying of data, data structures, files,and/or executable instructions to the secondary storage 384, to the ROM386, to the RAM 388, and/or to other non-volatile memory and volatilememory of the computer system 380.

In some contexts, the secondary storage 384, the ROM 386, and the RAM388 may be referred to as a non-transitory computer readable medium or acomputer readable storage media. A dynamic RAM embodiment of the RAM388, likewise, may be referred to as a non-transitory computer readablemedium in that while the dynamic RAM receives electrical power and isoperated in accordance with its design, for example during a period oftime during which the computer system 380 is turned on and operational,the dynamic RAM stores information that is written to it. Similarly, theprocessor 382 may comprise an internal RAM, an internal ROM, a cachememory, and/or other internal non-transitory storage blocks, sections,or components that may be referred to in some contexts as non-transitorycomputer readable media or computer readable storage media.

In some embodiments, the NMD (such as portable/wearable hpd) may includea visual indicator (e.g. one or more lights) which may relate to and/orbe indicative of noise data (for example, with respect to the specificNMD/hpd and/or the zone/area of the facility that the NMD/hpd is locatedin). FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary hpd with visual indicator (e.g.multi-segmented visual light indicator, so for example the number ofsuch multi-segmented lights illuminated might vary depending onconditions (e.g. based on the data), such that the illuminated portionmight change in size and/or color and/or intensity and/or illuminationpattern (e.g. such as flashing/pulsing in one or more rhythms)). In someembodiments, the NMD/hpd could receive data from (e.g. be incommunication with) the system/computer (e.g. with noise map data), andthe visual indicator might display accordingly (e.g. in response to suchdata). Visual indicator embodiments could be used for various purposes(e.g. to display various information), including by way of example thefollowing:

1. Using the NMD/hpd to report accumulated exposure for the workerthrough visual indication to co-workers (e.g. so that the visualindicator is indicative for exposure of the worker wearing the device(for example, showing personal noise exposure of such worker under thehpd)). The NMD/hpd could determine/calculate or receive such adetermination/calculation from the system/computer regarding the levelof noise exposure of the worker (e.g. despite any hearingprotection/attenuation), for example based on a microphone of theNMD/hpd and/or the noise map data from the system/computer (e.g. whichcalculation might account for the known attenuation of the NMD/hpd). Thelevel of noise dose (e.g. from the calculation) could then be visuallyindicated on the exterior of the headset using a lighting effect (e.g.using the visual indicator). In other words, if the NMD/hpd has aninternal microphone (e.g. underneath the hearing protection element, soas to measure actual noise incident on the worker's ear), then thevisual indicator might be illuminated based on the actual measured datafrom the microphone. If, however, the NMD/hpd has an exterior microphone(configured to measure the external environmental noise level), then thevisual indicator might illuminate based on a calculation that uses themeasured microphone sound level and the known attenuation of the NMD/hpd(e.g. in order to determine the estimated noise incident on the ear ofthe worker). On the other hand, such a calculation could use the noisemap data (e.g. from the system/computer, representing the externalenvironmental noise level) with the known attenuation of the NMD/hpd inorder to determine the amount of illumination of the visual indicator.As shown in FIG. 6, this lighting/illumination of the visual indicatorcan take the form of a ring of LED or light-guides (e.g. with aplurality of separate lights operable to be separately activated) withlight driving electronics mounted within the headset. In someembodiments, the orientation of the lighting (of the visual indicator)can be designed such that the amount of accumulated dose is instantlyrecognizable (e.g. easily discernible) by a third party some distancefrom the worker wearing the HDP. In other words, the visual indicatorcould have lights configured (e.g. angled) to increase visibility forthose around the wearer (e.g. so that co-workers can quickly see thewearer's exposure and identify if the wearer has been exposed to apotentially dangerous level of noise exposure (e.g. if there is awarning/alert situation)). For example, the visual indicator might haveits lights oriented to ensure effective visibility from essentially anyangle around the worker wearer. Such an approach may allow a surroundingthird-party (e.g. co-worker) to determine if the worker wearer is closeto or has exceed the maximum limit for noise for that particular periodof time, and this may allow the co-workers to provide an extra check onhearing safety (for example, if the wearer does not notice orintentionally disregards the danger). In some embodiments, the visualindicator can have multiple configurations (e.g. depending on thespecifics of illumination of the visual indicator). For example, theconfiguration of the light indicator may have 2 or more (e.g. multiple)color changing segments, and each segment could change color (ex. bydeactivating one color LED and activating another color LED in thatsegment) or brightness or illuminate representing a progressing increasein noise exposure for the worker. In some embodiments, each side of theheadset or other NMD/hpd could be configured to represent the noiseexposure for the corresponding ear, while in other embodiments both leftand right sides could display the same exposure level (e.g. averageexposure). The color and brightness of each visual segment can beconfigured.

2. Using the visual indicator of the NMD/hpd to report/indicate(external) noise level of the environment in which the NMD/hpd user isworking through visual indication to co-workers (such that the visualindicator is indicative of the environmental noise level for thesection/area). The NMD/hpd could determine/calculate or receive such adetermination/calculation from the system/computer regarding the levelof noise of the zone/area in which the NMD/hpd is located (e.g. theenvironmental noise level)), for example based on a microphone of theNMD/hpd and/or the noise map data from the system/computer. The level ofenvironmental noise (e.g. from the calculation) could then be visuallyindicated on the exterior of the headset using a lighting effect (e.g.using the visual indicator). In other words, if the NMD/hpd has aninternal microphone (e.g. underneath the hearing protection element, soas to measure noise incident on the worker's ear), then the visualindicator might be illuminated based on a calculation using the measurednoise level from the microphone and the known attenuation of the NMD/hpd(e.g. accounting for the attenuation to calculate how loud the externalenvironment outside the hpd would be). If, however, the NMD/hpd has anexterior microphone (configured to measure the external environmentalnoise level), then the visual indicator might illuminate based on theactual measured microphone sound level. On the other hand, such acalculation (regarding illumination of the visual indicator) could usethe noise map data (e.g. from the system/computer, representing theexternal environmental noise level) to determine the amount ofillumination of the visual indicator. As shown in FIG. 6, thislighting/illumination of the visual indicator can take the form of aring of LED or light-guides (e.g. with a plurality of separate lightsoperable to be separately activated) with light driving electronicsmounted within the headset. When working in external noise environments,the noise level visualization (e.g. provided by the visual indicator)can provide an immediate indication of the presence of dangerous noiselevels and prompt any approaching or surrounding worker to don their HPD(in other words, the hope is that such a visual indicator of externalnoise environment which is visible to other co-workers will help suchco-workers to realize if and when they should don their own hearingprotection devices). This could be particularly helpful if not allworkers in an area/zone have the more advanced type of NMD/hpd (e.g.with microphone and/or warning capabilities), since those otherco-workers might be able to take their cues from their fellow workerswho do have more advanced NMD/hpd (e.g. based on such visual indicatorcues). And as discussed above, if working within an area that benefitsfrom the noise map (e.g. with NMD/hpd as part of a system as describedherein), the system can communicate the level of noise of the zone/areato the NMD/hpd (by the means described previously), so that the lightvisualization (e.g. of the visual indicator) on the headset representsthe level of noise of the zone/area in which the headset is located(e.g. using the location information from the NMD in conjunction withthe noise map data, the computer may communicate with the NMD regardingthe illumination of the visual indicator, so that the visual indicatorilluminates to show the environmental noise level of the zone/area inwhich the NMD is currently located). In some embodiments, theorientation of the lighting (of the visual indicator) can be designedsuch that the environmental noise level is instantly recognizable (e.g.easily discernible) by a third party some distance from the workerwearing the hdp. In other words, the visual indicator could have lightsconfigured (e.g. angled) to increase visibility for those around thewearer (e.g. so that co-workers can quickly see and identify the noiselevel of the current environment (e.g. if it is sufficiently high thathpd should be donned)). For example, the visual indicator might have itslights oriented to ensure effective visibility from essentially anyangle around the worker wearer. Such an approach may allow a surroundingthird-party (e.g. co-worker) to determine the environmental noise levelby observing the NMD/hpd (of another), so for example they might knowwhen to don their hpd (even if their own hpd is relatively simple (e.g.no microphone) and/or is not part of the system). The specificenvironmental noise level data shown by the visual indicator could beinstantaneous, dynamic, and/or continuous (as discussed above). Forexample, the device could be configured so that the environmental noiselevel might be reported over a period of time such as 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, ormore minutes, for example representing the time-averaged value over suchtime period (as discussed above). In some embodiments, the visualindicator can have multiple configurations (e.g. depending on thespecifics of illumination of the visual indicator). For example, theconfiguration of the light indicator may have 2 or more (e.g. multiple)color changing segments, and each segment could change color (e.g. bydeactivating one color LED and activating another color LED in thatsegment) or brightness/intensity or illuminate representing aprogressing increase in in noise levels within the immediate environmentof the NMD/hpd user. In some embodiments, each side of the headset orother NMD/hpd could be configured to represent the noise level for thecorresponding side, while in other embodiments both left and right sidescould display the same exposure level (e.g. average exposure or thehighest exposure level). The color and brightness of each visual segmentcan be configured.

3. Using the visual indicator to report/indicate whether fit or seal ofhpd is adequate In some embodiments, the NMD/hpd could automaticallysample the external noise (for example, either using an externalmicrophone and/or the noise map from the system/computer) and compare itto the internal noise level (e.g. detected by an internal microphone),in order to determine if the NMD/hpd hearing protection (e.g.attenuation) element(s) are functioning properly (e.g. whether there isa good fit/seal, or whether the hpd should be repositioned to achieve abetter fit/seal). For example, if the delta (e.g. difference) betweenthe two noise levels (internal and external) is below a set value, thelight guide may alert (e.g. the visual indicator could illuminate toindicate poor fit) In the situation with a noise map (as discussedherein), the NMD location data can be used with the noise map todetermine the external noise environment (for example, if the NMD/hpdonly has an internal microphone). This external noise data from thesystem/computer can then be compared to the measured internal noiselevel (under the hpd, for example measured via an internal microphone).This approach may give an indication of a person at risk of getting anover exposure before the overexposure is a fact. Similar to thediscussion above, the visual indicator can be oriented so as to beclearly visible to co-workers (so that they may notice if there is apoor fit and inform the wearer, to serve as a second check).

4. Using the hpd visual indication to increase workers visibility inlow-light conditions or to represent an alarm situation for the worker.As a potential side benefit to such NMD/hpd with visual indicator, thelight indicator on the headset could be configured to display apre-configured pattern with a specific light color and/or intensity suchthat the light effect can be enabled when working in dark or unlitconditions. For example, the NMD/hpd might be configured with a lightdetector, and when it detects a pre-set low level of light (or less), itactivates the visual indicator in such a way as to increase workervisibility. Alternatively, the system might have such light detectors(for example, at least one per zone), and might communicate with thespecific NMD/hpd in areas of low light (based on the NMD/hpd locationdata) to activate their visual indicator in such a way as to increaseworker visibility. Worker visibility could relate to the ability of theworker to see (e.g. illuminating the area around the worker to help themsee better) and/or making the worker more visible to others (e.g. soco-workers can clearly see the location of the worker wearer, to avoidcollisions for example). In some embodiments, flashing, strobe orrepeating (lighting) effect for the visual indicator may create a highervisibility for the worker from a distance and/or can bring attention tothe worker if in distress (e.g. such higher visibility light effectsmight only be activated in response to an indication (from the NMD/hpditself (such as a sensor mounted thereon) and/or the system/computer incommunication with the NMD/hpd (e.g. based on a sensor, etc.)) thatthere is some sort of worker distress (e.g. by the worker wearing theNMD/hpd) which needs attention). As described above, the visualindicator may in some instances be oriented to increase visibility forthird parties (e.g. co-workers).

Having described above various system and method embodiments, variousadditional embodiments may include, but are not limited to thefollowing:

In a first embodiment, a system may comprise a plurality of noisemonitoring devices (NMD), each comprising: a microphone and processorfor noise monitoring/detection (of external and/or internal noise in thesurrounding environment in proximity to the NMD); a locator device (suchas GPS, Active RFID, WiFi, Bluetooth, Infrared, and/or UltrasonicRanging) operable/configured to determine the location of the NMD (forexample, within a facility); and a (wireless) communication device (e.g.wireless transmitter/receiver or transceiver, or in some embodiments, awired communication device (for example for fixed NMD)) (e.g. configuredto communicate with or between other NMD (e.g. with the interconnectedprocessors of the NMD performing computing tasks, and/or cloud computingand/or some other form of distributed computing performing computingtasks) and/or a separate computer (for performing computing tasks)—andwherein the computing tasks may include pooling noise data from theplurality of NMD, e.g. to create a noise map).

A second embodiment can include the system of the first embodiment,wherein one or more of the NMD comprises a hearing protection element(e.g. earmuff, earplug, or other element for sealing the ear canal orotherwise protecting the user from external noise) (such that the NMDwould be a hearing protection device (hpd) configured to detect noiseexposure).

A third embodiment can include the system of the first or secondembodiment, further comprising a remotely located computer/processor(such as a central station computer, comprising a wireless communicationdevice (e.g. wireless received/transmitter or transceiver) configuredto: communicate with the plurality of NMD; and use (e.g. pool) the noisemonitoring data communicated from the plurality of NMD to generate anoise map; wherein the plurality of NMD are communicatively connectedwith the computer.

A fourth embodiment can include the system of any of the first throughthird embodiments, wherein the noise map may be or comprise dynamicand/or accumulated over time (e.g. cumulative) and/or instantaneous.

A fifth embodiment can include the system of any of the first throughfourth embodiments, wherein the remotely located computer furthercomprises a display (e.g. a screen) configured/operable to display thenoise map (of the facility).

A sixth embodiment can include the system of any of the first throughfifth embodiments, wherein the remotely located computer is configuredto extrapolate/interpolate for areas of the noise map between the actualmeasured noise monitoring data points received by the computer from theplurality of NMD.

A seventh embodiment can include the system of any of the first throughsixth embodiments, wherein the computer is configured to determine fromnoise monitoring data (from the communicatively connected NMD) a movingnoise source.

An eighth embodiment can include the system of the seventh embodiment,wherein the computer is configured to compare the detected noise to adatabase of known sounds to determine what is the cause of the movingnoise source (e.g. what type of vehicle or other machinery is the likelycause of the moving noise).

A ninth embodiment can include the system of the seventh or eighthembodiment, wherein the computer is configured to extrapolate/projectthe trajectory/course of the moving noise source (which could bedisplayed on the screen of the computer).

A tenth embodiment can include the system of the ninth embodiment,wherein the computer is further configured to determine if any NMD arelocated along the trajectory of the moving noise source and to send awarning to any such NMD along the trajectory (so that the user can beaware of a possible physical danger that they might not hear due towearing of hpd, for example)

An eleventh embodiment can include the system of the tenth embodiment,wherein the computer is further configured to consider movement of NMDto see if it likely intercepts the trajectory of the moving noise sourceand need to send warning.

A twelfth embodiment can include the system of the tenth or eleventhembodiment, wherein the warning might comprise one or more of thefollowing: a sound beacon/tone/beeping that varies in volume based onproximity to moving noise source (e.g. volume increases as moving noisesource approaches NMD/hpd); adjust hear-through (so user more likely tohear moving noise source and be able to avoid); vibration that varies inintensity based on proximity to moving noise source; change totactility, etc.

A thirteenth embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough twelfth embodiments, wherein the computer is further configuredto detect an (audible) alarm (e.g. from a speaker of a PA system, forexample via noise data received from one or more NMD) and transmit/sharesuch alarm info, with other NMD in zone of alarm and/or related zone(s)(e.g. in proximity or abutting the alarm zone).

A fourteenth embodiment can include the system of the thirteenthembodiment, wherein the computer is further configured to detect if aNMD is (in an adjacent zone and) moving towards the alarm zone (based ontrajectory of NMD movement based on location data over time) andtransmits a warning (e.g. pre-alarm) to such NMD.

A fifteenth embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough fourteenth embodiments, wherein the NMD is associated with auser; and wherein the computer further comprises a database ofindividual user hearing test data (e.g. threshold/exposure tolerance forspecific individual users) and the computer is further configured tocorrelate user location with noise level and compare to database todetermine if a warning should be sent to a user (for example, if thespecific user is sensitive and should not be exposed to such loud noise,even if the noise level is below the standard threshold).

A sixteenth embodiment can include the system of the fifteenthembodiment, wherein the computer is configured to transmit a warning tothe user recommending movement to another zone and/or away from aspecific zone based on the noise map (e.g. in relation to the user'sthreshold/exposure tolerance information and/or the detected noise fromother zones (e.g. noise map data)).

A seventeenth embodiment can include the system of the fifteenth orsixteenth embodiments, wherein the computer is further configured todetect if a NMD is (in an adjacent zone and) moving towards the zonehaving noise in excess of the user's threshold/exposure tolerance (basedon trajectory of NMD movement based on location data over time) andtransmits a warning (e.g. recommendation) to such NMD (e.g. regardingthe amount of time the user might spend in that zone and/or analternative zone better suited to the user).

An eighteenth embodiment can include the system of the first throughseventeenth embodiments, wherein, for a new worker coming in (forexample, into a facility or zone), the computer is configured todetermine the zone (of the noise map/facility) that the user will beentering and suggest/recommend or provide (e.g. automatically dispense)appropriate hpd/NMD based on noise map.

A nineteenth embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough eighteenth embodiments, wherein the computer is furtherconfigured to compare information on the location and type of hpd/NMD tothe noise map, determine if hpd/NMD is insufficient/inadequate, andtransmit a warning to the hpd/NMD if it is found inadequate.

A twentieth embodiment can include the system of the nineteenthembodiment, wherein the computer is further configured to generate anestimate of time to spend in the zone (based on location, type ofhpd/NMD, and noise map) and transmit to the hpd/NMD.

A twenty-first embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough twentieth embodiments, wherein the computer is configured to usenoise monitoring data (e.g. from the noise map) regarding a moving noisesource to alter the set-up/configuration of hpd/NMD along the trajectoryof the moving noise source (e.g. alter/tune active noise cancellationfor any hpd/NMD along the course of trajectory of the moving noisesource based on information from other hpd/NMD regarding that movingnoise source (e.g. in order to earlier make adjustments)).

A twenty-second embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough twenty-first embodiments, wherein the computer is furtherconfigured to detect if a hpd/NMD is moving towards the trajectory ofthe moving noise source (based on trajectory of hpd/NMD movement basedon location data over time) and alters the set-up/configuration of suchhpd/NMD.

A twenty-third embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough twenty-second embodiments, further comprising one or more fixednoise monitoring/detecting devices (e.g. having a microphone, processor,and wireless communication device configured/operable to communicatewith the computer and/or plurality of NMD (for example, at least onesuch fixed NMD per zone).

A twenty-fourth embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough twenty-third embodiments, wherein the computing tasks (e.g.performed by the computer) comprises population wide analysis ofareas/zones within a facility that may need to be engineered to reducenoise emissions, based on the noise map.

A twenty-fifth embodiment, can include the system of any of the firstthrough twenty-fourth embodiments, wherein the computing tasks (e.g.performed by the computer) comprises using noise detection information(e.g. the noise map) for fault detection (for example to detect part orequipment failure based on noise level outside the expectation (e.g.range) for a zone/area (for example based on pre-knowledge of what anarea/zone should sound like and/or based on specific frequency detectionindicative of such a failure) and/or help locate such failures bycorrelating data from several noise monitoring devices to determinelocation, which can then be used to notify maintenance).

A twenty-sixth embodiment can include the system of any of the firstthrough twenty-fifth embodiments, further comprising a worker locationtracking system (such as one or more worker locator devices) operable todetermine the location of any workers within a zone/area/facility notwearing NMD/hpd (and in some embodiments, any such worker locatordevices might be separate from the NMD/hpd), wherein the computerreceives worker location data and correlates that worker location datawith the noise data (e.g. from a noise map developed from the NMD)) todetermine such worker's estimated noise exposure.

A twenty-seventh embodiment can include the system of the twenty-sixthembodiment, wherein at least some (e.g. at least one) workers do nothave/wear NMD (e.g. they only have a separate worker location device).

A twenty-eighth embodiment can include the system of the twenty-sixth ortwenty-seventh embodiments, wherein the computer is configured to sendan alert (e.g. to the worker locator device or via PA system, etc.) toany worker not wearing NMD when the worker's estimated noise exposureapproaches or reaches threshold/limit.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted or not implemented.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating witheach other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through someinterface, device, or intermediate component, whether electrically,mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions,and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could bemade without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosedherein have been shown and described above, modifications thereof may bemade by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and theteachings of the disclosure. The embodiments described herein arerepresentative only and are not intended to be limiting. Manyvariations, combinations, and modifications are possible and are withinthe scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result fromcombining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s)are also within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope ofprotection is not limited by the description set out above, but isdefined by the claims which follow, that scope including all equivalentsof the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim isincorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claimsare embodiment(s) of the present invention(s). Furthermore, anyadvantages and features described above may relate to specificembodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claimsto processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the aboveadvantages or having any or all of the above features.

Additionally, the section headings used herein are provided forconsistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. 1.77 or to otherwiseprovide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit orcharacterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue fromthis disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although theheadings might refer to a “Field,” the claims should not be limited bythe language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field.Further, a description of a technology in the “Background” is not to beconstrued as an admission that certain technology is prior art to anyinvention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to beconsidered as a limiting characterization of the invention(s) set forthin issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to“invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there isonly a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventionsmay be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claimsissuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define theinvention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In allinstances, the scope of the claims shall be considered on their ownmerits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by theheadings set forth herein.

Use of broader terms such as “comprises”, “includes”, and “having”should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as“consisting of”, “consisting essentially of”, and “comprisedsubstantially of”. Use of the terms “optionally,” “may,” “might,”“possibly,” and the like with respect to any element of an embodimentmeans that the element is not required, or alternatively, the element isrequired, both alternatives being within the scope of the embodiment(s).Also, references to examples are merely provided for illustrativepurposes, and are not intended to be exclusive.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted or not implemented.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating witheach other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through someinterface, device, or intermediate component, whether electrically,mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions,and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could bemade without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

Having described the various systems and methods herein, variousembodiments of the systems and methods can include, but are not limitedto the claims provided herein.

1. A system comprising: a plurality of noise monitoring devices, whereineach of the plurality of noise monitoring devices comprises: a hearingprotection element having a structure that is configured to block noisefrom entering an ear canal of a user; a microphone electrically coupledto a circuit having a processor and non-transitory memory, the circuitbeing configured by an application to: detect incoming noise signals viathe microphone, wherein the incoming noise signals are detectedaccording to a predefined sampling period, transform the noise signalsinto noise data by appending values obtained from the signal with thecoordinates received from a locator unit, include location informationand an identifier of the noise monitoring device into the noise data,wherein the location information corresponds with coordinates of thenoise monitoring device when the noise signal was detected, and instructa transceiver to at least periodically transmit the noise data inresponse to at least one of passage of a predefined time period, anexternal request received via a network, or a combination of thepredefined time period and the external request; the locator unit that,upon execution by the processor of the circuit, determines locationinformation as coordinates corresponding to a geolocation of each of thenoise monitoring devices, and relays the location information back tothe application; and the transceiver electrically coupled to theprocessor of the circuit and configured to transmit the noise data viathe network.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remotelylocated computer system that is communicatively coupled, via thenetwork, to the plurality of noise monitoring devices, the computersystem comprising a transceiver coupled to a processor and anon-transitory memory, the non-transitory memory comprising anapplication that, upon execution, configures the computer system to:communicate with the plurality of noise monitoring devices and receivenoise data from each noise monitoring device; pool the noise datacommunicated from the plurality of noise monitoring devices; and basedon the pooled noise data, generate a noise map.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the remotely located computer system further comprises adisplay configured to present the noise map in response to reception ofthe noise map from the remotely located computer system, wherein thenoise map is updated on the display by the remotely located computersystem, wherein the noise map comprises at least one of distribution ofcolors having a brightness corresponding to an intensity of noise. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configuredto: determine when one or more noise monitoring device are located alongthe trajectory path corresponding to the moving noise source; and pushat least an audio alarm to the one or more noise monitoring device alongthe trajectory path, wherein the alarm transmits an audible warningindicating presence of noise source within a defined time period.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the alarm comprises one or more of thefollowing: an audible sound that, when transmitted through speakerscoupled to the noise monitoring device, varies in volume based on theproximity of the noise source such that the volume increases as thenoise source approaches one or more noise monitoring device; aninstruction to the circuit of the noise monitoring device that adjusts ahear-through configuration setting of noise cancellation such that thenoise monitoring device decreases noise cancellation and allows soundabove a predefined threshold to pass to an ear canal, thereby increasingthe likelihood that a user hears the noise source and the intercept; aninstruction, to a vibration device electrically coupled to the noisemonitoring device, to induce a vibration that varies in intensity basedon proximity to the noise source moving along the trajectory path; andan instruction to change tactility of an interface of one of the noisemonitoring devices.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the noisemonitoring device is associated with a user; and wherein the computersystem is coupled to a datastore that stores individual user hearingtest data comprising thresholds, and the computer is further configuredto correlate location information with sound levels from the noise data,and compare to the thresholds in the datastore to determine if a warningshould be sent to a user's noise monitoring device in response to thesound levels being above the thresholds while is at a location of thenoise monitoring device.
 7. A method to monitor and map noise data froma plurality of noise monitoring devices (NMD), the method comprising:detecting incoming noise signals via a microphone of a noise monitoringdevice, wherein the incoming noise signals are detected according to apredefined sampling period; determining location information, by alocator unit of the noise monitoring device, as coordinatescorresponding to a geolocation of the noise monitoring device;transforming the noise signals into noise data by appending valuesobtained from the signal with the coordinates received from the locatorunit of the noise monitoring device; including location information andan identifier of the noise monitoring device into the noise data,wherein the location information corresponds with coordinates of thenoise monitoring device when the noise signal was detected; andinstructing a transceiver of the noise monitoring device to at leastperiodically transmit the noise data in response to at least one ofpassage of a predefined time period, an external request received via anetwork, or a combination of the predefined time period and the externalrequest;
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising blocking, by ahearing protection element of the noise monitoring device, noise fromentering an ear canal of a user.
 9. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising communicating, by a remotely located computer system, withthe plurality of noise monitoring devices; receiving noise data fromeach noise monitoring device by the remotely located computer system;pooling the noise data communicated from the plurality of noisemonitoring devices; and generating a noise map based on the pooled noisedata.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying, by theremotely located computer system, the geolocation of the noisemonitoring devices based on the received noise data; pulling a digitalblueprint of the geolocation; overlaying the noise map with the digitalblueprint; identifying geolocations on the digital blueprintrepresenting areas of the noise map that do have noise monitoringdevices that measure noise data from noise sources; and extrapolatingpredicted noise levels between each of the geolocations of the noisemonitoring devices that receive noise signals.
 11. The method of claim9, further comprising: determining, by the remotely located computersystem, a noise source based on the noise data received from at leastone of the plurality of noise monitoring devices; and based on thedetermination of the noise source and the noise data, identifying thatthe noise source is moving relative to at least one of the plurality ofnoise monitoring devices.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:determining the source by comparison the detected noise data toinstances of known sound data stored in non-transitory memory of acommunicatively coupled datastore; and based on the comparison,determining an identifier corresponding to the known sound dataassociated with the noise source producing the noise, wherein the noisesource corresponds at least one of a speaker, machinery, or a vehicle.13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: creating a trajectory ofthe noise source by identifying the direction of movement of the noisesource based on comparing which noise monitoring devices indicateincreased intensity of noise data in relation to other noise monitoringdevices that indicate a decrease of intensity of noise data from thenoise source; overlaying the trajectory on the noise map to provide atrajectory path of the moving noise source; and visually presenting thetrajectory path in the noise map for on a communicatively coupleddisplay.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining whenone or more noise monitoring device are located along the trajectorypath corresponding to the moving noise source; and push at least anaudio alarm to the one or more noise monitoring device along thetrajectory path, wherein the alarm transmits an audible warningindicating presence of noise source within a defined time period. 15.The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining that the one ormore noise monitoring device is moving based on the receivedcoordinates; and determining that the noise monitoring device and thenoise source will intercept based on the movement of the noisemonitoring device and the trajectory path of the noise source movingalong the trajectory path, wherein the audio alarm is pushed to the oneor more noise monitoring device in response to an intercept probabilityvalue exceeding a predefined threshold, and wherein the audio alarm ispushed to the one or more noise monitoring device before the interceptoccurs.
 16. A method to monitor and map noise data from a plurality ofnoise monitoring devices by a remotely located computer system, themethod comprising communicating, by the remotely located computersystem, with the plurality of noise monitoring devices; receiving noisedata from each noise monitoring device by the remotely located computersystem, wherein the noise data comprises noise signals detected by amicrophone of the noise monitoring devices, and location informationdetected by a locator unit of the noise monitoring devices; pooling thenoise data communicated from the plurality of noise monitoring devices;and generating a noise map based on the pooled noise data.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: identifying, by the remotelylocated computer system, the geolocation of the noise monitoring devicesbased on the received noise data; pulling a digital blueprint of thegeolocation; overlaying the noise map with the digital blueprint;identifying geolocations on the digital blueprint representing areas ofthe noise map that do have noise monitoring devices that measure noisedata from noise sources; and extrapolating predicted noise levelsbetween each of the geolocations of the noise monitoring devices thatreceive noise signals.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:detecting an alarm event by comparing the noise data with predefinedthresholds of continuous noise, in response to determining that thenoise data indicates that noise signals are above a defined soundpressure level for a defined time period, the computer system marks thesignal as an alarm event in a data record stored in non-transitorymemory; and transmitting the alarm event along with the noise map to oneor more noise monitoring devices that is within a predefined distance ofthe noise source.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:detecting if a noise monitoring device is in a zone adjacent to thenoise source, determine that the noise monitoring device is movingtowards a zone of the noise source based on trajectory of the noisemonitoring device's movement via use of location information determinedover time, and in response to the noise monitoring device moving towardsthe noise source, transmitting a message to the noise monitoring device,wherein the message alerts the user to a moving noise source, adjustsnoise cancellation on the noise monitoring device, provides direction tothe nearest hearing protection dispenser, or any combination thereof.20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: detecting if a noisemonitoring device is in an adjacent zone and moving towards another zonehaving noise in excess of the user's threshold, wherein detection isbased on a trajectory of the noise monitoring device's movementcalculated using location information, and transmitting a warning tosuch noise monitoring device, wherein the warning indicates the amountof time the user has remaining to spend in the adjacent zone or theanother zone.